The Gospel of John tells us that on the night he was betrayed, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He said to them, “I have set for you an example…” Have you ever been to a foot washing service in a church? I have been to a couple, and in both instances, the experience […]
Yesterday we reflected on a passage from 2 Kings 2 (vs 1-14), and Elisha’s faithfulness in a time of great uncertainty and change. I was recently listening to a TED talk by the author and journalist, Krista Tippett. She was speaking about this very thing – about how we live in a time when the […]
There is a great story in 2 Kings, chapter 2 (vs. 1-14) about the old prophet Elijah. At this stage, Elijah had been going and going. He knew he was nearing the end of his life. And his disciple, Elisha is right by his side. What’s interesting, is that three times Elijah pleads with his […]
In his book, Finding God in the Dark, David Walls writes about Lloyd John Ogilvie and the struggles he had in his first year as the US Senate Chaplain. Over the course of a year, his wife had undergone five major surgeries, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy. Several key staff teammates moved on to other assignments, […]
Something I hear often from my friends outside the church is this: I’m spiritual but not religious… I’m sure you’ve heard this too. I even said it myself. And usually, it is said meaning: I’m not into all the rules of religion. On reflection, however, the word religion actually has a powerful origin. It comes […]
Jesus often taught using parables, and in his parables, he teaches us that God’s kingdom is like the slow growth of a mustard plant. It is like a seed that someone planted in the ground and it sprouts on its own. It begins small, inconspicuous, and almost unnoticeable – but also unstoppable! Sometime back, at […]
Over the past couple of days, we’ve been reflecting on Psalm 62 and the practice of cultivating a little silence in our lives. The author and philosopher Ryan Holiday, has been really influential in helping me think about this. He argues fairly strongly about the importance of intentionally cultivating silence in our lives. He makes […]
Psalm 62 declares, “For God alone, my soul waits in silence…” I remember quite a number of years ago, my wife Robbie took a class at Memorial Presbyterian Church on Christian mediation. It was taught by our friend Marc Craddock. After a really basic introduction, Marc asked them to sit in silence for five minutes. […]
Psalm 62 is a confession of faith. Twice within just a few verses, the psalmist testifies: For God alone, my soul waits… He alone is my rock and my salvation… my fortress; I shall never be shaken. That is a profound statement of trust. And yet, at the same time, there is realism. There is […]
A number of years ago, I listened to a TED talk given by Ron Gutman who is an inventor, investor, and healthcare entrepreneur. Ron reviewed a host of studies about smiling and shared some amazing findings. Did you know that even when you are not happy, a simple smile will make you feel better? In […]
