Growing up in the Bible Belt, I would from time to time feel pressure from my well intentioned Christian friends. “You need to be more aggressive in evangelism.” “There are lost souls all about us” “Jesus calls all his disciples to evangelism, it’s a matter of obedience.” Freely, I admit that I resented such pressure. … Continue reading Evangelism is NOT Multilevel Marketing!
Spiritual Disciplines
YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (part 2)
Contrast the void of hedonism with the headiness of accomplishment. Qohelet gives accomplishment three times the attention as hedonism. “I undertook great projects…” he says, and then catalogs what he has done: building, planting, accumulating, creating culture. Qohelet proficiently executes the cultural mandate of Genesis 1: 28 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and … Continue reading YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (part 2)
YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 (Part 1, v 1-3)
YOLO. It stands for “You Only Live Once.” It was a motto for the millennial and younger generations, though now it has become passé through overuse. If you’re over 40 and have not heard YOLO, think “carpe diem” – seize the day. YOLO had its brief moment in the sun in late 2011 and early … Continue reading YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 (Part 1, v 1-3)
For Tonight, It’s The Meaning Of Life (A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)
19th century writer Henry David Thoreau moved to the woods around Walden pond so he could experience a life of simplicity. He felt weary of the routine, unexamined life of the shopkeeping townspeople. “The mass of men,” he wrote, “lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau intended to confront life, rather than fill his hours with … Continue reading For Tonight, It’s The Meaning Of Life (A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)
Overcoming Worry Through Prayer.
Don’t worry. Easy to say, hard to accomplish. There are so many things that needle us into worrying: the economy, cultural changes, natural disasters, taxes, epidemic diseases, violence, and mayhem. Beyond those broad cultural forces, we each have individual worries: health, career, relationships, money. I know I worry, and I’m pretty sure that you do to (but … Continue reading Overcoming Worry Through Prayer.
The Book of Smoke (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:1-2)
Sfumato. It is a technical term from art history that describes a “smoky” look, a look without harsh dividing lines. Leonardo DaVinci was a master of sfumato. He accomplished the effect quite masterfully in the Mona Lisa. DaVinci used tiny brush strokes to blend colors, then he applied thin layers of varnish, up to 40 … Continue reading The Book of Smoke (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:1-2)
How To Pray For Your Enemies When You Don’t Have Any (and when you do)
When you read, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44) how do you respond? Are you an easygoing person? Do you think you have no enemies? Think again. You don’t have to be paranoid. You don’t have to imagine a vast conspiracy. Just ask yourself, have you been angry, irritated, … Continue reading How To Pray For Your Enemies When You Don’t Have Any (and when you do)
The Practice of the Christian Life
Originally published in the April 2013 edition of the Covenant CourierMany of us have been enjoying the thrill of the NCAA basketball tournament, the Big Dance, as it is popularly called. In the midst of the excitement over upset victories and the glories of astonishing feats of athletic prowess, one simple truth arises: the teams … Continue reading The Practice of the Christian Life
Reconsidering Gentleness
Ours is an era of bravado, coarseness, and bluster. Gentleness, when exhibited by any over a very young age, generally elicits contempt, or at best, pity.It’s time to reconsider gentleness.After all, isn’t gentleness a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23)? Are we not commanded to let our gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 4:5)? When … Continue reading Reconsidering Gentleness
Reading Recommendation for Spiritual Wellbeing: The God of the Mundane
I liked Matt Redmond's slim little volume, "The God of the Mundane." After a second read, I liked it a lot. Redmond, a former pastor who now works in banking, offers a healthful counterpoint to the breathless vision-casting Christian-living hype that is served up by the shining-teeth rock stars of contemporary evangelicalism. He writes for … Continue reading Reading Recommendation for Spiritual Wellbeing: The God of the Mundane
Horizons of the Possible 