Tag: Religion and Spirituality
Look for the clue in Cot 17
PREPARATION You probably played a game called Clue when you were a child. It’s the classic whodunit board game! Poor Mr. Buddy’s been murdered in his own mansion. Who could have done it? And how? And where? With six suspects, six possible murder weapons and nine rooms in the mansion, there are hundreds of possibilities, [...]
Something sacred is locked up in your memories?
PREPARATION The key to wisdom is locked up in memory. This living wisdom, not your achievements or net worth, becomes your legacy–your gift to the next generation. These collected memories make you either a living testimony, or a dying breed. Whether you realize it or not, memories are sacred things, fingerprints of God. From the [...]
What do you learn from the darkness?
PREPARATION He must have had something different in mind when he announced to the church, “We are going deeper this year. This will be our year to tackle the deep end.” He wanted everyone to pray for this step into study and devotion. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Does make you wonder, however, what was happening [...]
In a world of distrust, do you trust?
PREPARATION Do you trust your spouse not to cheat on you regardless of temptations? Do you trust your best friend to not reveal your secrets? Do you trust your boss to do what he promises? Do you trust your manager to have your back? Do you trust your teammates to carry their share of the [...]
Has Christianity twisted up the world?
PREPARATION It’s time to clear the air. I’m embarrassed by the screeching voices and angry tone of misguided people who claim a special calling from the God of the Bible. These self-appointed voices are giving my God a bad rap. They pop-off, picket, protest and post putdowns and judgment in defense of their own guilt [...]
I pray, why doesn’t it work?
PREPARATION Every year various national polls indicate that almost 90% of US residents pray. Most come to the great Giver looking for gifts. After all, Jesus did say “Whatever you ask in my name, I will give it.” So why doesn’t it work all the time? I have prayed asking for my team to win, [...]
It was an epiphany
PREPARATION Are you one of the walking wounded? Or, worse yet, you’re wounded, but no longer walking–just sitting around moping, muttering, “Why does God not love me anymore? I must have done something really bad.” For this post, let’s call him Zane. He’s in his late 50′s, divorced, broken and sad, and living with his [...]
“They fired me tonight.”
PREPARATION During the presidential campaign we hear a lot about tracking polls. These polls reflected the candidates favorability rating from one week to the next, or even day to day. Have you considered doing some “Faith” tracking? The process of tracking your faith requires a starting point and a destination. And, neither of those points [...]
Do you suffer from Conversation Deficit Disorder?
PREPARATION So, you think you have faith narrowed and reduced to a strategic formula and defined in rational theological words? You have memorized the accepted answers to the correct questions. While, the incorrect questions, the ones that force you to wonder, the ones that take you on a journey, the ones that force you to [...]
Truth is in the story
PREPARATION Take a moment to re-think the story told in John 4. You remember, it’s the well-side conversation between Jesus and an unnamed Samaritan woman. Beginning with a simple, inciting question. Jesus asked, “Will you give me a drink?” Thus begins an involved conversation designed to introduce Jesus as the Messiah. If either of them [...]
Called out of failure
PREPARATION How are you at trial and error learning? I have become a master. Faith is required. And, I have discovered that many times it is a lifelong learning process with great rewards. It means you have to FAIL. In Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne’s dad carries his son into the house after the fall in [...]
Are you embedded in a mystery?
PREPARATION It’s worth more than you can imagine. It takes on a life of its own and moves you outside the church and your prayer closet. In a culture so filled with senseless distractions and fanciful delusions, believers long for depth and understanding. Is that your longing? More details about the Bible, does not equal [...]
HD straight from God
PREPARATION Early last week I sat in Starbucks watching a colorful comedy. The coffee took backstage to the humorous adventures and countless stories of old friends. Not only did I glimpse a vision of friendship vividly played out in front of my eyes, I was an invited guest. I got to share, to be part [...]
Are you invincible?
PREPARATION Everyday I hear reports of God sightings in some of the most unlikely places. In fact, I think HE enjoys interrupting our lives with adrenaline pumping, shocks to our systems. Whatever you call them, they stun us, alter our perceptions, and if we let them, anchor our faith. They are the fingerprints of God [...]
Influence doesn’t begin in church
PREPARATION Contrary to what you may have heard, if you really want to influence someone for Jesus, your first step is not taking them to church. So many people have had bad experiences at church. Some have been over-churched, others de-churched, and a few flat out-churched. Jesus didn’t invite people to church. He invited himself [...]
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