Do you want to be fortified, braced, strengthened? Me too. That’s why it’s vital to praise God. Here’s how those things are connected. In Psalm 103 David talks about praising God. A lot. Check it out: Verse 1: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Verse 2: “Praise the LORD, … Continue reading The strengthening effect of praising God
church
Fellowship revisited
What comes to mind when someone mentions the word “fellowship”? Coffee at church? Small talk? In the New Testament, “fellowship” was a robust, meaning-soaked word. In the original Greek it’s koinonia. In Acts 2:42 we read, “They [believers] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship [koinonia], to the breaking of bread and to … Continue reading Fellowship revisited
A wall you build between you and God
Your ego is a wall you build between you and God. Let me explain. Ego is an inflated sense of self; a disproportionate love of self; and a me-first approach to life which reeks of superiority. By focusing on how great you think YOU are, you neglect how great God is, and how other people … Continue reading A wall you build between you and God
You complete the broken statue
In 2007 The Denver Post reported a story about a 22-foot statue of Jesus. During a storm, lighting struck and cut off Jesus’ hands and feet! The nuns who took care of it were asked if or when they could replace the hands and feet. They weren’t really sure since they relied on donations. Fair … Continue reading You complete the broken statue
The Faith “Authenticator”
Apparently there are “authenticators” in major league baseball. I recently heard about it on sports radio. Baseball teams like the Blue Jays, Astros or Yankees (or whoever), employ these authenticators at games to authenticate what was actually used in a game. It makes sense. After all, the baseballs, bats and other equipment that is used … Continue reading The Faith “Authenticator”
October 31 is… Reformation Day?
October 31 has become synonymous with Halloween—the day where kids get dressed up, forego the don’t-talk-to-strangers rule, and get a candy buzz that could fly them to the moon. But the date has a greater historical significance. It’s the day when Martin Luther formally began a protest over certain problems in the Church of his … Continue reading October 31 is… Reformation Day?
Not alone (in these 3 ways)
This week we’ve been talking about facing trouble and persecution as a follower of Jesus. Most overt persecution happens in other parts of the world. But I’m convinced that it’s going to be more and more common here in North America. It’s a big deal. And we’re naïve to ignore it. And we’re super-naïve to … Continue reading Not alone (in these 3 ways)
Being useful makes you more content
I think we’re spiritually constructed to want to be useful. When someone we know is going through something difficult, how many of us have thought or said something like, “If only there was something I could do to help” or “I just want to be useful”? In a broader sense, you probably feel a strong … Continue reading Being useful makes you more content
The situation you’re already in
In 1 Corinthians 12:27 Paul says, “you are the body of Christ...” In light of that, we’ve been reflecting on this important question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Sometimes we respond by getting involved in programs … Continue reading The situation you’re already in
Simply showing up
Yesterday I talked about being useful, and asked you this question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Usefulness is the hands and feet of faithfulness. Sometimes these opportunities to be useful arise through specific initiatives or programs … Continue reading Simply showing up
