Jesus said: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).Actor Kelsey Grammer is best known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane on the hit shows Cheers and Frasier. A few years ago he was interviewed about playing a pastor in the movie “Jesus Revolution.” When asked about faith, he said: “The idea that … Continue reading The best thing yet
dietrich bonhoeffer
The highest joy?
In the movie Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury needs to give away all his possessions.He invites in the poor. They start taking away his things. He looks to the cross and says, “You! You! You are the only one who knows how easy this is!”Pardon? That’s not what we expect him to say. We expect him … Continue reading The highest joy?
Oblivious of self
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” So said Jesus in Mark 8:34. We’re spending a few devotionals unpacking the meaning of this enigmatic statement.Denying yourself has to do with denying that sinful, selfish part of you. Our computers and phones have a default factory … Continue reading Oblivious of self
We pick stuff up, almost by osmosis
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Have you ever been talking to a young child when they use a word that you know they didn’t come up with … Continue reading We pick stuff up, almost by osmosis
Helping someone in their sea of alligators
In John 13:34 Jesus gave this new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Sounds nice. But what is love? When you look at the use of this word in the New Testament here is what you find. To love someone in this way means acknowledging that … Continue reading Helping someone in their sea of alligators
Cheap grace vs. costly grace
Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and professor who was … Continue reading Cheap grace vs. costly grace
The measure you use will be measured to you
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” That’s what Jesus says in Matthew 7:1. If you judge, then you will also be judged by God. He goes on to explain further in verse 2: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it … Continue reading The measure you use will be measured to you
It determines the day
Good morning! Many of you are opening this in the morning, whatever your time zone happens to be. If you fall into this category, I hope your sleep was refreshing, long enough, and didn’t include any creepy dreams. Let me get right to it. Even when times are tough—and especially when times are tough—your morning … Continue reading It determines the day
No other hope
The Beatitudes are a short-but-mighty collection of Jesus’ teachings. Here is how they begin: “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” … Continue reading No other hope
In your pain
In the first century, one of the reasons many people rejected the idea that Jesus was the Messiah was because he suffered and experienced pain. We humans can often think that the presence of pain means the absence of God—back then or now. Some people continue to think that suffering—whether it be at the hands … Continue reading In your pain
