I often grieve for those who’ve fallen off the cliff of life and are in bad sorts, resulting from some unique cocktail of wounds, circumstances beyond their control, personal choices, and/or the chains of some addiction. The good news for them and for all of us is: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed … Read More
How Does Forgiveness Relate to Reconciliation?
According to Barna Group, approximately “a quarter of practicing Christians know someone they can’t or won’t forgive.”[1] Forgiveness can be confusing, especially in how it relates to reconciliation. For example, How do we know if we’ve forgiven someone? And, if we forgive, do we have to reconcile? Several years ago, I read through Ralph Keyes’ collection of writings of Sons … Read More
The Adoption, Foster Care, and Special Needs Addendum
A friend wrote me this week and encouraged me to write up one additional and important addendum to the article I shared last week on “Four Gospel-Centered & Non-Political Things Every Pastor Can Do to Decrease the Impact of Abortion“. Here it is– a fifth thing every pastor can do: Encourage healthy families to consider adoption and foster care. Further, … Read More
The Stupid Religious Reason I Missed Star Wars
Christians have a strange proclivity to fashion Jesus’ teaching on the narrow way into a joyless pursuit that devalues creation and makes the world he created very small. Let me explain. I chewed a lot of gum that year. I was collecting trading cards for the movie that everyone was talking about—a movie that promised to be one of the … Read More
Navigating the Empty Nest
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,whom he has redeemed from troubleand gathered in from the lands,from the east and from the west,from the north and from the south.He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,and burst their bonds apart.Let them … Read More
Reading, Snuggles, and the Future of Christianity
Note: This post is a re-purposed and expanded version of “For the Love of Books,” and commemorates my son, Timothy, and daughter, Emily’s, graduations this week: Tim from Villanova where he got two Masters, one in English Literature and one in Theology, and Emily who became a registered nurse, receiving her RN from Rowan College. Very proud of them! In … Read More
Working Together Side-by-Side, Part 2 of 2
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain [fleeting] life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might… Ecclesiastes 9:9-10a, ESV Again, in order to … Read More
Working Together Side-by-Side, Part 1 of 2
We’ve only just begun to live White lace and promises A kiss for luck and we’re on our way… Sharing horizons that are new to us Watching the signs along the way Talkin’ it over, just the two of us Workin’ together day to day Together -The Carpenters, We’ve Only Just Begun I could have added this two-part series to … Read More
A Critique of Gothardism, Part 5 of 5
As an exercise in discernment, this series critiques the teaching associated with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Advanced Training Institute International (ATI), and specifically their founder, Bill Gothard. His teaching includes a myriad of distortions and this post addresses examples under the final two of six main areas (listed at the end of Part 1). Elevating the … Read More
A Critique of Gothardism, Part 3 of 5
As an exercise in discernment, this series critiques the teaching associated with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Advanced Training Institute International (ATI), and specifically their founder, Bill Gothard. His teaching includes a myriad of distortions and this post addresses examples under the third of six main areas (listed at the end of Part 1): A misuse of the … Read More