I think the tendency of many people, even Christians, is to view God as stingy and holding back the best from us as if God is like a man who is afraid he will run out so he is always thinking about the cost. There is a lot of stinginess to go around in ourContinue reading “Fear constricts the flow of grace while Faith opens its hydrant”
Tag Archives: Christianity
Trusting God when Bad News comes
Have you ever had a friend or spouse approach you with the words, “I have some good news and some bad news, which would you like to hear first?” This is common phraseology in our culture which is sometimes simply employed to communicate an outlook that is mixed with positive and negative elements, but inContinue reading “Trusting God when Bad News comes”
When God doesn’t answer “on time”
Typically when we share our anxiety about a circumstance with a friend, we expect the friend to respond with a similar angst to our situation. After all that’s how we know they care, right? But when a friend responds with nonchalance, we feel that they don’t really love us. Well sometimes we project this sameContinue reading “When God doesn’t answer “on time””
How to come to Jesus
Sometimes we’re faced with a situation where we know we need Jesus but we don’t know how to start, what to say or how to come. In Mark 5, we meet a desperate dad who is also a synagogue leader. He’s not over-thinking what he should say or how he should come. He just comes.Continue reading “How to come to Jesus”
A life that welcomes sinners will be criticized by the self-righteous establishment
Do you love a good controversy? Well, Jesus was the instigator of several controversies during his 3 years of ministry on the earth including the strong disagreement over the people with whom he chose to eat. The Religiously Serious leaders of the day (the people who you may have expected to be closer to JesusContinue reading “A life that welcomes sinners will be criticized by the self-righteous establishment”
A life that welcomes sinners overflows into the desire to invite your non-religious friends to party with Jesus
Last night I asked a large group of friends to describe the best party they had ever attended. Eyes lit up as men told stories of great wedding receptions and even a yacht party on the open sea that lasted five days with all expenses paid. Well surprisingly, the best party Jesus ever attended onContinue reading “A life that welcomes sinners overflows into the desire to invite your non-religious friends to party with Jesus”
Coming to Jesus with child-like qualities
William Hendrikson illustrates how a child thinks: A merchant had a pile of gold coins outside his windowsill with a sign, “Take One.” All day long people passed by thinking, “this guy can’t fool me.” Evening fell and the owner was about to remove the pile. But just before he did, a child came by,Continue reading “Coming to Jesus with child-like qualities”
When Jesus welcomed the little children into His presence, He was insisting on a paradigm shift in thinking related to the VIPs in the Kingdom of God.
One of the highlights of our year living in Uppsala, Sweden was being invited to participate in an event for the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. The Swedes rolled out the red carpet for the Ambassador and treated him like a V.I.P. A red carpet has been traditionally used to mark the path taken by kings,Continue reading “When Jesus welcomed the little children into His presence, He was insisting on a paradigm shift in thinking related to the VIPs in the Kingdom of God.”
The Most Familiar Scene in the Gospels
It is perhaps the most familiar scene in the gospels; the scene when Jesus took the little children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Through his prayer and blessing His heart of love and compassion goes out to the little ones. Every child with equal importance and attention. To thoseContinue reading “The Most Familiar Scene in the Gospels”
In Christmas, we encounter a Savior who was refused lodging so that heaven might be opened to us, not as temporary lodging but as our eternal home.
It was likely late December 5BC when the time came for another Census to be taken and everyone, including Mary and Joseph, was directed to go back to their ancestral homes to be counted. The First Couple traveled 90 miles to Bethlehem where they found the residences overflowing with family members and the local hotelsContinue reading “In Christmas, we encounter a Savior who was refused lodging so that heaven might be opened to us, not as temporary lodging but as our eternal home.”
Lead, Laugh, Love 