Connecting the Gospel of the Kingdom to Ordinary Lives What pathways do we have today for deep-dive discipleship? I have been considering this question for some time. I remember growing up in the church where it was the tradition to regather at some point during the week for meaty discipleship content. But today we live
Read MoreThe Psalter begins with a promise of blessing, the kind of blessing found in the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed is the one who does not take allegiance with the vicious, or go in the wrongful direction of sinners, or join in with those who make a mockery of God. These are ways of departure
Read MoreReflecting on Psalm 100 Morning Prayer in our prayerbook begins with “Lord Open our lips and our mouth shall declare your praise”, from Psalm 51. Our praise to God is our love language to him. It is how we acknowledge Him as our Lord. We are called to serve Him with gladness; to come before
Read MoreWe are familiar with the idea of a truce. A truce is like a cease-fire; two parties agree to stop fighting each other. The goal is centered on ending the fight, not necessarily on a flourishing relationship. When the resurrected Christ found His disciples behind closed doors, distressed and afraid, He offered them peace. Shalom in
Read MoreThe call and response, “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” echoes in our ears from Easter Sunday. From now until Pentecost, we are in a season of celebration of our Risen Lord. Not much is said in the gospels about the events following the resurrection. The writers focus on the fact that Jesus rose, highlighting
Read MoreOne practice that I have not honed so well, and which my wife honed well, is journaling. I am just not quite as consistent. But then there is the other part of the matter. If I am bad at journaling, I am worse at going back to them. One good thing about journals is that they
Read MoreEight years ago today, I was on my way to work when a news item broke on the radio that caught me completely off-guard. It was coming out of Nigeria. The terrorist group, Boko Haram, raided a school in Chibok, kidnapping more than 200 female, teenage students. They packed these young teenagers like canned sardine
Read MoreSocial media has affected life as we ever knew it. Among other things, it has come to serve as an informal measure of social acceptance. It can be so gratifying when many people like, react to, or share our posts. It can be so discouraging, on the other hand, when others never like or say
Read MoreWhen I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19 I was told long ago that Christians are always happy people. I even knew of a Christian organization whose slogan was “The happiest people on earth.” I understand what
Read MoreThis month marked two years since the World Health Organization declared COVID a global pandemic. Looking back to 2020, it didn’t seem like we would be back where we are today. We wiped down tables and chairs after each user. We kept our hands off our faces and washed them every time we touched something others
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