Harried, exhausted, and trying to keep up. As I talk with people, this seems to be the pervasive feeling among so many in America today. With the increasing pressures of work, family, and life, who has time for contemplation and the spiritual life? Fortunately, Jesus summarized things for us. Every masterful teacher knows how to … Continue reading Discover the Key to Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Growth
Overcome Loneliness With These Two Powerful Practices
By seeking stillness and solitude, I become more deeply connected to God. That relationship helps me take the pressure off other people in my life. I can receive them as the gift they are rather than demanding that they meet my needs.
Do You Want To Be Wiser, Stronger, And More Sane? Then Practice Self-Examination
If you would grow spiritually, self-examination is an essential practice. This should come as no surprise. We are a culture obsessed with tracking and feedback. Our fit bits and our wearable tech collect valuable information about our health and wellbeing. We track money and time to make sure we squander neither (though habitually we do). … Continue reading Do You Want To Be Wiser, Stronger, And More Sane? Then Practice Self-Examination
What’s More Powerful For Spiritual Growth: The Answers Or The Questions?
Do you ever get the impression that Christian discipleship is about little more than getting the answers right? It’s as though you just had to read enough books and know the answers better than anyone else. But if it’s true that the answers you get are determined by the questions you ask, then isn’t it … Continue reading What’s More Powerful For Spiritual Growth: The Answers Or The Questions?
If You Would Be Truly Free, Then Learn The Skill Of Forgiveness
Forgiveness isn’t an art. It’s a skill. It’s an essential skill for your mental wellbeing and your spiritual growth. If you don’t learn to forgive, you will stunt your spiritual growth - you’ll stay prisoner to resentment or ill feeling. When you learn to forgive, you experience deep growth in grace and you get a … Continue reading If You Would Be Truly Free, Then Learn The Skill Of Forgiveness
4 Basic Qualities that Will Move You From Surviving to Thriving
I’ve been reflecting these past few months about my hopes and dreams for my family. And one of those dreams is that everyone in my family would not simply survive, but thrive. Surviving is about the basic requirements of life: food, shelter, safety, and relationships. It even includes a basic sense of purpose in life … Continue reading 4 Basic Qualities that Will Move You From Surviving to Thriving
Take the 31 Day Proverbs Challenge
Do you want to know how to handle relationships better? How to better handle finances? How to develop more self-control? You need wisdom. Note that wisdom is not the same as information. We are awash in information. Drowning in it. Humanity is producing nearly 1.7 megabytes of data per person every second. By 2020, our … Continue reading Take the 31 Day Proverbs Challenge
Learning the Discipline of Loving
So you’ve made a commitment to growing spiritually in 2017? You want to be spiritually stronger, wiser, and more grounded? You want 2017 to be a year of exponential growth? That’s what this series on Fruitful Discipline is all about. (Update on January 11, 2017: Listen to the corresponding sermon series on our Covenant-First Presbyterian YouTube … Continue reading Learning the Discipline of Loving
We’re Back! New 2017 Series on “Fruitful Disciplines”
The New Year means it’s time to return to writing the Horizons of the Possible Blog. I’m excited about a new sermon series that I’m doing called “Fruitful Disciplines.” It’s a 9 week exploration of the fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, … Continue reading We’re Back! New 2017 Series on “Fruitful Disciplines”
What Is The Holy Spirit Up To? A Wealth Of Gifts For The Common Good
Ours is an era of suspicion. Don’t take my word for it; read this Nov 30, 2013 article from the Associated Press about their poll of Americans, asking how much they trust their fellow citizens. The results tempt me to fear for the Republic. Now, nearly 2/3 of the American public says they really can’t … Continue reading What Is The Holy Spirit Up To? A Wealth Of Gifts For The Common Good
Horizons of the Possible 