Monthly Archives: April 2011

Henri Nouwen has said that our “growing edge” is the place where our faith and our unbelief touch each other.

A friend of ours recently posted this question, “Why are our children not allowed to read the Bible in school, but allowed to do so later in prison?”

The next time you pray to be faithful, God will say, “Then do the next thing you have to do, and do it for me.”

When John Wesley counseled a weary colleague to “read and pray daily; it is your life,” he was connecting with an ancient stream of Christian spirituality.  Among the various disciplines and means of grace, reading and praying occupy the top … Continue reading →

If we view our accomplishments as trophies, we’re in danger.  If we view them as gifts, we’re in grace.

When Jesus told Mary not to touch him (John 20:17), he was leading her to the place where she could understand that the touch of faith is greater than the touch of flesh.

God forbid that this sign should ever describe the church: “No shoes, no shirt, no service.”

In the first creation God rested on the Sabbath; in the new creation it is the Son who rests on the Sabbath.  It is finished!  And as in the first creation, it is very good.

It’s more than a byte today, but I think this prayer by Henri Nouwen will bless you… O dear Lord, what can I say to you on this holy night?  Is there any word that could come from my mouth, … Continue reading →

On this day, Jesus became our ultimate food and drink.

I can remember the time when to say that immorality was running rampant on television immediately labeled you as a narrow-minded Fundamentalist.  But that is no longer the case.  A broad coalition of people are expressing concern about what we … Continue reading →

Judas and Peter both denied Christ.  The difference is not in that; the difference is in what they did after they denied him.  Judas ran away in despair–and died.  Peter returned to Jesus in confession–and lived.

We cannot fulfill our calling if we shelter ourselves from the possibility of betrayal.

Holy Week is the time to experience spiritual formation through paradox:  it is in dying that we live.

When you find it difficult to believe that God loves you, ask someone to believe it for you until you can.

The next time you think, “I don’t know how to pray,” just add God—“God, I don’t know how to pray.” You’re praying!

It’s ridiculous to paddle a boat on land; it’s unnecessary to paddle one in the stream.

I don’t want anyone to misunderstand this post.  I am not calling for an abandonment of “study Bibles.”  If I did that, I would have to have a big bonfire in my backyard.  I have accumulated a shelf (or more) … Continue reading →

“Our smallest place of prayer is large enough to contain the entire world.”  John Michael Talbot, The World is My Cloister, p. 76

A bucket catches more rain than a thimble.  Run out into God’s “rain” with a wide-open heart!

I believe Philip Yancey is correct:  prayer is more about “showing up” than lifting up (requests)—more about listening than speaking.

The use of historic creeds in corporate worship, common prayer, and private devotions raises the question about the place and role of doctrine in Christian formation. The conversation begins with the first two words, “I believe….” The use of the … Continue reading →