A new neighbor moved in across the street from my parent’s home. Stopping his lawnmower, my dad walked across the street to meet him. Repeated street crossings produced an amicable friendship and then the discovery was made. The new neighbor was a widower and had lung cancer. My dad began to help him do odd jobs around his home and my mom took over meals. Over time they had several gospel conversations. Mom and dad invited him to their home Bible study and then to…
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The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson “Stories are capable of inspiring people to change their lives,” writes Jessica Hooten Wilson. She then builds a case for gaining holiness through reading fiction. Here’s a quote that will capture your attention: “I would argue that reading beautiful literature forms a person in a much deeper way than watching content that has been catered to our lowest common denominator.” How do we escape succumbing to the common…
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The doomsday countdown had begun. Living in captivity, without official representation, Israel faced extermination (Esther 3:8-11). The situation seemed helpless. But wait, there was an “insider” in the king’s palace — someone who was close to the king and shared his trust. Her name was Esther and she was providentially appointed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Esther’s insider influence with the king helped save Israel (Esther 7:3-10). God’s mission is achieved through everyday insiders — people like you and me. We don’t…
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What’s happened since my previous posting about observing Lent? My Protestant tradition seldom emphasizes Lent so I’m a novice at its practice. With Easter now over, what did I learn from my Lenten experience? Will I practice it in the future? Here are some reflections from a backwards look. First, I’ve discovered that change is often incremental not hyperbolic in my life. I would like to say that my Lenten practices “changed my life” (a typical evangelical response!). However, as I age, much of my…
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In a world filled with distractions, it’s easy to struggle with engaging deeply with the Bible. You may find yourself reading the words but feeling disconnected from the life-changing power in them. Sometimes the Bible seems intimidating — or maybe even . . . boring? Holding the Word offers an exciting, holistic and relational approach to interacting with Scripture that will transform your life. Here’s what people are saying about Holding the Word. This is a book about love. It is a love story about loving God so…
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The event of April 8, 2024, only happens every few decades. It was the day of a total solar eclipse. The path of the eclipse included northern Ohio, so several of our family members secured an Airbnb for the weekend and positioned ourselves to watch. What an amazing show! The moon slowly covered the face of the sun until we were left with some blazing fringes around an enclosed circle. The sky went dark, the birds went silent, and the temperature dropped. We all verbally…
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Imagine kissing someone through a pane of glass. What a funny image! Who would do that? We might blow a kiss to someone as they walk away. We might jokingly imitate a kiss to another through a glass window. But no two people would exchange a purposeful kiss through glass, especially when the real thing is available. Kissing someone through a pane of glass creates an illusion of intimacy. Our lips appear to touch but no real contact is actually made. The passion is not…
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I generally don’t pay much attention to the ancient church calendar. I’m not sure all the reasons why but the worship circles I frequently populate do not put an emphasis on the church calendar particularly Lent. But something is changing for me. I’ve been awakened to think of these church seasons in a new way — a way that thinks differently about time. Our time and seasons today are driven by consumerism. Before September is over, Thanksgiving decorations appear in the stores. By early October,…
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The Bible is a book about holding. Now, this shouldn’t surprise us since we all hold things. Holding on to something is a natural part of life. We hold in a variety of ways, and with a variety of people. Holding can be an intellectual activity: “I finally got ahold of geometry.” Holding is a physical activity: “I’m holding on to the rope for dear life!” Holding is a relational activity: “Let me hold your hand.” For Christians, holding is something more. God invites us…
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Jesus was a retreat leader, and we should follow His example. However, His retreats were different from our idea of a retreat. We picture a luxurious conference center with a meticulously planned schedule and sumptuous meals. Jesus lived a little differently. Matthew records how Jesus emerged from His “retreat” (Matthew 14:13 JBP) — a location described as “desolate” or “deserted.” Time and again Jesus retreated from the crowds to pray and be alone (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). For someone who was always filled with the…
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