In Matthew 6, Jesus offers some instruction on prayer — specifically, misguided approaches to prayer versus the kind of prayer God desires.

First, Jesus contrasts the prayer God desires with the self-righteousness of hypocrites:

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,…

Why So Soon ?

We have two golden retrievers, and they love sharing slices of mandarin oranges with my dad (or is it the other way around?)  They recognize the bag when it enters the house with the rest of the groceries, and they get excited just like it’s a bag of dog treats. However, if the bag has a squishy orange in it, or if the bowl of oranges sits a little too long, the taste turns. If dad doesn’t like an orange, he will toss all the pieces to the dogs, but even they usually refuse to eat the…

Daniel was a prophet during the 70 years of Babylonian captivity.  He was of the “royal family and of the nobles” of the Israelites and a “youth” when taken captive (Dan. 1:3-4).  The book that bears his name also tells about three of his friends– Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego– who, like him, remained faithful to God in the face of difficult circumstances. 

In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, built a gold statue that measured 90 feet high and 9 feet wide.  This was most likely in honor of Babylon being identified as the head of gold in the interpretation…

When Dreams Don’t Come True

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue; and the dreams that you dare to
dream really do come true.” So sings Dorothy longingly in The Wizard of Oz. In
a world of heart-crushing disappointments everyone longs for a life with “a happy
ending.”
It is a uniquely human thing to dream dreams – to be able to imagine the ideal
and long for it. And God, far from discouraging our longings, has put a vision of
the future in our hearts which is free of suffering and sin, a life of unending joy
and peace (Rev…

Identity

In a close self-examination I find that I feel the most anxious, angry or depressed
when my identity is challenged. As I reflect on my own ravenous consumption of
the apparent gifts of my efforts, I find at times that the vent of my aggressive
defense of who I am, was actually a war against the reminder of who I should be.
This can at times find its way to a self-righteous scourging toward the challenger,
who in retrospect, may have been designed to change me for the better.
One of the things I find fascinating when doing Old Testament…

That’s the question Jesus asked after healing the ten lepers in Luke 17.  Ten men were cleansed, but only one of them “turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him” (17:16).  Where were the other nine?

We are about to closeout another Thanksgiving weekend, a holiday that until recently was not as commercialized as Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day.  But it has become the season to usher in Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday deals.  For many, it is no longer a time to be thankful for what…

Powder, Purpose, and Presence:
Spiritual Lessons from Snow Skiing

Snow skiing is one of the most exhilarating experiences one can have. The beauty
of fresh snow, quiet forests, and the thrill of weaving between pines creates a kind
of adventure that feels almost spiritual. But beyond the physical rush of snow
skiing, tree skiing offers another level of opportunity to reflect on deeper truths,
and lessons that mirror the walk of faith and the principles found in Scripture. As
we move through the trees, navigate obstacles, and take in the beauty of God’s
creation, we can learn something about perseverance, focus,…

New Every Morning

One of the most emotion-packed passages in all the Bible is Jeremiah’s extended
dirge found in the book of Lamentations. There he pours out his heart lamenting
the tragedy of Jerusalem’s total destruction, brought on by Israel’s rebellion
against Jehovah.
However, in the midst of His intense grief, the prophet pauses to observe:
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s
lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never
fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
( Lam 3:21-23 )
Based on this text Thomas Chisholm wrote a wonderful hymn, entitled…

    The effects of low blood sugar come in many forms. It always includes a general sense of illness and the desire to lay down. But depending on the severity and length of time, it also includes breaking out in sweat, vision changes, numbness in your lips, anxiety, hunger, and even confusion.  But every once in a while, when my blood sugar crashes during the night, it comes with a bad dream  where I know I need to wake up but can't.  It's a feeling of being trapped in a nightmare, with your whole body working in earnest to respond…

Honoring Perspective

A voice, one that trails away across the silent ebb and flow of waves rolling in and
out. A call penetrating through the tumultuous waves and howling winds pushing
us forward. A whisper, quietly questioning if we are ready to step out in this new
walk. Souls around us question. A soul within us stirs. This world, His creation,
beckons that there is work to be done. Motivations come in various ways, at the
most unexpected of times. This world is full of possibilities, and a healthy soul
wishes to plant the seed and reap His abundance.
For Christians,…

The great actor Charles Laughton had been invited to a family dinner in London. During the evening, the host asked everyone present to recite a favorite poem or passage. When it was Laughton’s turn, he skillfully recited Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”). Everyone applauded his performance, and the process continued.

The last person to be called on was an adored elderly aunt who had dozed off in a corner and missed Laughton’s recitation. Someone gently woke her, explained what was going on, and asked her to…

Behold, two Bricklayers went out to build fortifications. The First Bricklayer began work on his own being taught by his father. He respected the example of his father and the great fortifications that he had built.  And so the young Bricklayer worked alone diligently. Until one day he found a woman that loved bricklaying as much as him. They had two children who also learned to lay bricks. They worked diligently daily for many years together.

The Second Bricklayer also had the example of his father, but he did not follow his Father’s faithful ways. He thought his father was too…

The Good News

When I offer a public prayer, I will sometimes pray “Thank you, God, for Jesus
and for what he has done, what he’s doing, and what he’s going to do”. It’s safe
to say that someone new to Christianity who hears that prayer may ask what does
he mean by that? This is a great question. And for those who do not know Christ .
. . it is a matter of life and death.
As Christians we believe that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection are the
backbone of our faith and central in God’s plan for humanity.…