Love the Sinner—Hate the sin.* I’ve heard the phrase so often I almost believe it. Then I realize that’s only something God can say—not me. And when God says it, I’m standing among the sinners, for we’ve all fallen short of God’s standard of perfection. (Romans 3:23) If I think I’m standing next to God… Read more »
Monthly Archives: October 2016
Why do I jump from my job description and keep trying to do God’s job?
Why do I jump from my job description and keep trying to do God’s job? I’ve been given the clear assignment to love, not judge my “neighbor,” and that the judging part, if there is any judging to be done is God’s deal, not mine. Functioning as the “Assistant General Manager of the Universe” never… Read more »
Preacher’s Post: “God said it–I believe it–that settles it”
“God says it—I believe it—that settles it!” Bumper sticker Christianity is so tempting, but so wrong. “The God’s Must Be Crazy” is about a man from an extremely remote village in Australia who discovers a soda bottle that was dropped from a passing plane. That simple act of tossing an empty soda bottle unleashes a… Read more »
Last night the church fire alarm went off just before 10pm
Last night the church fire alarm went off just before 10pm. I jumped in my car and roared up to church, remembering a similar drive the night of March 19, 1989 when the fire destroyed the old carriage house which was our church home. Fortunately, this time it was a false alarm which left… Read more »
I anticipate three very difficult meetings today dealing with three very different situations.
I anticipate three very difficult meetings today dealing with three very different situations. The first has to do with figuring out how a couple of teams can work together instead of one team trying to do the other team’s job. The second is sitting with a mom whose family is in her words, “falling… Read more »
Preacher’s Post: God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle?
I don’t know if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of this piece of cherished Christian advice, but it is devastating and destructive: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” I’m not sure where to even begin to dismantle this half-truth that gets tossed around, thinking it is encouragement, when in fact… Read more »
Preacher’s Post: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?
“God helps those who help themselves” has to be the most quoted verse that’s not in the Bible. But it’s one of our favorites when pointing to the fault of someone else for not being able to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” (Another popular proverb that is the anti-thesis of the gospel message.) The… Read more »
“When we deny our stories, they define us; when we own our stories, we get to write the ending.” Brené Brown
“When we deny our stories, they define us; when we own our stories, we get to write the ending.” Brené Brown You’re invited to a deeply power a spiritual process of owning your story and revolutionizing your life with a new ending. That’s the power of the Rising Strong process Brené has created for us…. Read more »