In his book, Your Story Has a Villain, John Pokluda asks: “What would you change if all your prayers were answered?”When I first read that question, I paused and tried to think about all the prayers I had said the previous day. Pokluda’s question made me wonder if my prayers were too timid or small. … Continue reading If all your prayers were answered
the lord’s prayer
God’s unparalleled renovation of the world
Wallace Alston wrote: “To be a member of a church… is to be an active participant in God’s unparalleled renovation of the world.”* That’s a big statement. Perhaps you don’t think about your church in that way. Perhaps you only think about your church as a place to sing songs or chat with nice people. … Continue reading God’s unparalleled renovation of the world
In the face of God
In our society the spotlight is shining brightly on the problem of racial injustice. There is certainly racial discrimination in our world, and that should change. In Matthew 6:10 Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will and kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” So doesn’t it make sense for us … Continue reading In the face of God
The power and the glory
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13, KJV). Several years ago I led an online study. During one of the sessions, I invited participants to share a time when they experienced the powerful presence of God in the midst of a difficult situation. Liz Brown subscribes … Continue reading The power and the glory
You’ve ALREADY forgiven them, right?
Many of us have memorized the Lord’s Prayer, including this line: “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The original Greek word for “trespasses” is epheilemata which could also be translated as debt, or sin. But what I want to emphasize today is how the entire sentence should actually … Continue reading You’ve ALREADY forgiven them, right?
What Jesus didn’t teach about most
This week I’ve been sharing some thoughts about heaven—that it will be better than anything we can experience in this life, and also that it is a place of INCREDIBLE joy. With that in mind, I also want to debunk a popular misconception: that the main thing Jesus taught about was going to heaven after … Continue reading What Jesus didn’t teach about most
