What burdens are you bearing on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ? Health problems, difficult marriages, infertility, children with special needs, aging parents, financial difficulties—the list is endless of burdens that we may be shouldering alongside our fellow believers. But are you carrying that load with the humility the task requires? As Paul … Continue reading On Being a Humble Burden-Bearer
Category: Church Life
To the One Thinking of Quitting Church
Dear Friend, I wish that we could have this conversation over a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I firmly believe that all the best counseling sessions involve caffeine. But, alas, the written word will have to do. So, you’re thinking about quitting church. On one hand, I understand that. I assume that you have been … Continue reading To the One Thinking of Quitting Church
God’s Ministry to a Discouraged Servant
"LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you … Continue reading God’s Ministry to a Discouraged Servant
Worse Than Trading Away Babe Ruth…
Have you ever heard of the musical No, No, Nanette? Probably not. How about Babe Ruth? Even non-baseball fans recognize that name. Surely any team would do whatever they could to keep arguably the greatest player in the history of baseball on their team, even if it meant trading away everyone else. Apparently, the Boston … Continue reading Worse Than Trading Away Babe Ruth…
Be a Soul Strengthener
You probably remember the craze from the mid-90s. Chicken Soup for the Soul books were suddenly everywhere, showing up on shelves in bookstores, grocery stores, gas stations, and libraries. These collections of feel-good stories quickly gained popularity and began to target specific audiences with titles like Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul, Chicken Soup for … Continue reading Be a Soul Strengthener
Our Trouble with Tribalism
Tribalism1—(n): 1) a tribal consciousness or loyalty, especially: exaltation of the tribe above other groups. 2) strong in-group loyalty This word, which rocketed to popularity in the 1960s, is currently experiencing another renaissance. Likely the factionalizing of our society has caused this resurgence. We form groups with people who think, act, and believe like we … Continue reading Our Trouble with Tribalism
Endurance Is a Team Sport
Running, biking, swimming, skiing—the sports that require the most physical endurance are individual. Though they may include a team element, the actual competitions require one person to undergo a grueling test of their own personal stamina. When it’s race time, the athlete must find the grit within himself to persevere. He may be able to … Continue reading Endurance Is a Team Sport
A New and Quiet Type of Suffering
My husband and I were helping to sponsor a youth group trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior where we enjoyed cliff jumping, a boat ride on the Lake, a few hikes, and breathtaking scenery. During the trip I engaged in what I thought would be a casual conversation with a woman from my … Continue reading A New and Quiet Type of Suffering
Is Your Praise Glorious?
We hear a lot about glory in church, particularly God’s glory. We sing about it, preach about it, pray for it. But what does it actually mean? John Piper defines it this way: “God’s glory is the radiance of his holiness, the radiance of his manifold, infinitely worthy, and valuable perfections.” Or to use a … Continue reading Is Your Praise Glorious?
Be Faithful When Jesus Tells You to Stay
He was hardly the welcoming party any mayor would want a famous visitor to encounter first. In fact, he was the scourge of the entire town. But, of course, in typical Jesus-fashion, he was the first one the Son of God met when He came to the country of the Gerasenes. Scripture doesn’t record his … Continue reading Be Faithful When Jesus Tells You to Stay
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