Have you ever faced persecution? Real persecution? Unless you’ve spent time living overseas as a local in a creative access country, the answer is most likely “no”. We like to throw the term “persecution” around a lot these days. The checker at Walmart doesn’t wish us Merry Christmas. Our nephew’s elementary school performs a “Winter Concert” and sings “Frosty the Snowman” instead of … [Read more...]
What do you want me to do for you?
Imagine if Jesus came to you and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” What would you answer? How would you respond? Would you have to pause and think about it? Would you need to get back to him? Or would you immediately know? Would your response come easily? Would the answer be the very thing you’ve been praying about for weeks - months - years - or even decades? In the story … [Read more...]
Overcoming the Goat Curse
I’ve always been a fan of the underdog. Radically so. Even to the point of sometimes switching allegiances because “my team” was playing against the underdog team. Whether it’s because they’re the underdogs, or simply a best-loved team, or some other reason, the Cubs seemed to become America’s sweetheart team in last fall's World Series. Before the World Series of 2016, I hadn’t … [Read more...]
How Long, O Lord?
You may have heard me share that my two favorite books in the Bible are Leviticus and Lamentations (followed closely by James). Lamentations presents this beautiful dichotomy between the terror and heartache of daily life, and the mercy and love of God. In the midst of describing untold despair, the writer of Lamentations pauses, looks heavenward, and proclaims, “Yet this I call to mind … [Read more...]