Tag Archive | religion

Something Different for Advent

Something Different for Advent

Does the world really need another Advent devotion book? Maybe… But only if it’s something more…

A Jackpot with a Countdown Timer

A Jackpot with a Countdown Timer

Let’s imagine this situation: in a very posh casino, with a very unique promotion, and some crazy luck, not one but two people end up hitting an “Easy Money” jackpot at 11:00 pm exactly. The time stamp is important, because this never-before and never-to-be-repeated jackpot comes with $50,000 of the house’s money; but there’s a catch. (Of course there’s a catch.)

Seedbeds of Discipleship in Greenhouses of Grace

Seedbeds of Discipleship in Greenhouses of Grace

What if we imagined every congregation, every small group Bible study, every home and neighborhood where Jesus has planted his Word as a seedbed of discipleship? And several of those seedbeds together could then comprise an innovation greenhouse, a greenhouse of grace.

Please Pass the Potatoes

Please Pass the Potatoes

In response to a blog about making room for doubting people at the table, I want to talk about the different ways we experience doubt depending on whether we came of age in a Culture of Certainty or a Culture of Skepticism. Ultimately, I think we have to lead by combining authentic vulnerability, struggle, and doubt with authentic trust, delight, and dependence on Jesus. And there has to be room at the table even for those who are uncomfortable with uncertainty.

Beloved, Just Lost

Beloved, Just Lost

It dawned on me in my devotion time just the other day that we usually think the Prodigal Son was OUT and then back IN again; outside the Kingdom and then back inside, where the family belongs. That view of the Prodigal Son aligns with the Story of Salvation in 2 Acts, a common, biblical, and […]

The Secret Code Prayer

The Secret Code Prayer

Have you ever run a discipleship experiment? When was the last time you tried something new related to following Jesus or being shaped by him? I think a spirit of adventure and discovery goes a long way in the life of a follower. Not everything you try will be right for you, or right for […]

A Place to Call Home

A Place to Call Home

Whenever you visit a place linked to strong memories, the experience can be filled with a sense of homecoming. But it’s not the same as it used to be. That combination of feelings helps us think about our relationship with our current home in the world, and what it means for us to be foreigners and exiles in what is our home, but not our home the way it was, and not our home the way it will one day be.