First the bad news: we’re all scarecrows. Not the cute “Wizard of Oz” kind of scarecrow, with a winsome song and dance. Nor the scary “Batman” kind of scarecrow as psychopathic super-villain. No. We’re the T.S. Eliot kind of scarecrow: “We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with … Continue reading Food For Thought: We Are All Scarecrows (Meditation on Ephesians 2:1-5)
Author: Russell Smith
Pray Like A Jazz Soloist – It’ll Set You Free
When I was a child, prayer came naturally. Like most children, I just spoke with God. But then I became a sophisticated teenager. Relationships suddenly became vast forests of mystery and complex interactions. Every conversation was pregnant with both pitfalls and opportunities. I discovered, as we all do when we leave childhood behind, that people … Continue reading Pray Like A Jazz Soloist – It’ll Set You Free
These Ordinary People Are Quietly Changing The World
Have you had one of those days where things seem to connect? That was my Wednesday. My mid-morning coffee break usually includes reading online magazines, looking for interesting and inspiring stories to add to my collection. I was not disappointed. I came across this touching article about the Belgian village of Geel. This little community … Continue reading These Ordinary People Are Quietly Changing The World
An Easy And Simple Way You Can Make Somebody’s Day (Meditation on Ephesians 1:15-16)
Do you feel like you need a reminder that you are not forgotten? That you matter? That your presence and your effort have had some effect? Believe me, you matter. You have been God’s instrument of blessing in someone’s life. There is, out there, someone who is very thankful that they encountered you along the … Continue reading An Easy And Simple Way You Can Make Somebody’s Day (Meditation on Ephesians 1:15-16)
These 4 Books Helped Me Discover New Depths Of Prayer
I’ll confess it; prayer is difficult. After hearing the carefully crafted prayers of professional religionists, I used to despair, thinking “I’ll never be able to talk like that.” Then, I became one of those professional religionists, and that didn’t make it better. I felt like people expected neo-Shakespearian prose from me when I prayed. I … Continue reading These 4 Books Helped Me Discover New Depths Of Prayer
Make The Big Picture Clear By Attending To The Little Picture
“Sit on a mountain – chew on a reed. Wait on the Lord.” That was Ed Christman’s advice. I was a recent college graduate, still trying to sort out what I was going to do with my life. Ed was the Chaplain at Wake Forest University. He was a venerable figure, thin framed, stooped in … Continue reading Make The Big Picture Clear By Attending To The Little Picture
Is There Relief From The Imposter Syndrome? (Meditation on Ephesians 1:14)
“You are a fraud.” Imagine opening your mailbox - the real one, not your email - and finding those words handwritten on a tidy notecard. What would you feel? How would you respond?Next question:How often do you mentally recite those words to yourself?A lot of us do. It’s a condition called the “Imposter Syndrome.” I … Continue reading Is There Relief From The Imposter Syndrome? (Meditation on Ephesians 1:14)
Theology MUST Lead To Doxology (Meditation on Ephesians 1:3-14)
Admit it, theology looks boring. Those thick books, rife with unpronounceable german words strung together in small print, they’re intimidating. If we summon the courage to heft one of these tomes off the shelf and peruse the pages, we find prose that sounds more pedantic than poetic. We quickly find ourselves adrift in a sea … Continue reading Theology MUST Lead To Doxology (Meditation on Ephesians 1:3-14)
This Man Redeemed His Past. What Can You Do With Your Past?
Hiroo Onoda, a weary Japanese intelligence officer, emerged from the Philippine jungle. He had fought the war for so very long. He had obeyed his superior officer’s orders: don’t surrender, don’t kill yourself, and spy on the Americans. He had done his duty faithfully, and he only surrendered when his commanding officer returned to find … Continue reading This Man Redeemed His Past. What Can You Do With Your Past?
5 Blessings That Come From God’s Fondness For You. (Meditation on Ephesians 3:1-10 part 2)
“It’s not about you; It’s all about God” That’s supposed to be the comforting message of Ephesians 1? Yes. It’s comforting because of a second foundational truth: God is very fond of His children. He’s “…blessed us with every spiritual blessing…” (Eph 1:3) Which means what? First there is the blessing of being chosen (Eph … Continue reading 5 Blessings That Come From God’s Fondness For You. (Meditation on Ephesians 3:1-10 part 2)
Horizons of the Possible 