8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument, 9 also that the women should dress themselves in moderate clothing with reverence and self-control, not with their hair braided or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for … Read More
What Does Following Jesus Look Like?
What does character and internal beauty look like– especially for a Christian? In truth, it is the same for men and women, and there is no better mirror of what internal beauty and godliness looks like than the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Here Jesus gives his disciples eight characteristics to pursue or that evidence being in a state of blessing … Read More
What I Learned about God from James Bond, 2 of 2
Buried in the recesses of our soul is a quiet desperation for adventure, a hunger for more than our current experience. James Bond speaks to that “wild at heart” part of us and stirs and soothes those fantasies. Are those fantasies all bad? All things we need to eradicate or repress? Or are they mixed with the image-of-God stardust we … Read More
The Proverbs 31 Woman: An Important Corrective for Our Times
I tend to love strong, capable female characters in books and movies, especially spy thrillers. As a pastor, however, I fully acknowledge that—in real life—degrading and oppressive attitudes and actions toward women have been rampant throughout history. And that, sadly, many of these attitudes and actions have been vehemently defended by various religions, including Christianity. But, honestly, even our irreligious … Read More
Rethinking Harmful Stereotypes in John Eldredge’s Teaching
Although there are others who do not share my experience, on the whole, John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart had a positive impact on my life. Among other things, his insights on Satan’s strategy are worth the price of the book and are probably the most helpful thing I’ve read on that subject. Eldredge’s influence was so profound in my ministry … Read More
Finding Peace in a Global Pandemic
So much has happened these last few weeks and things keep changing every day! Praying for all of us to stay safe, flexible, and know how to navigate our responsibilities and callings in the coming days. The practical angst related to an incredulous lack of toilet paper aside, the more difficult quest for most of us is the search for serenity… Be … Read More
What White Birch Trees Teach Us About Life
Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary… Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea roar and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it, then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD… (Psa. 96:6,11-13a, ESV) I wrote the … Read More