Reflections on Prayer and the Victims of Trauma, 2 of 2

We saw last week that Psalm 137 acknowledges and gives legitimacy to the voice of trauma. We also learned that we can take even our darkest emotions to God and that he is big enough to handle our anger, hates, and desire for vengeance. But how does this mesh with the Christian concepts of justice and forgiveness? These are great … Read More

Going Through Storms, 2 of 2

We mentioned in part one that storms come in many shapes and sizes. Again, whether yours feel minor or soul-destroying, I hope that one or more of these remaining insights from the relational storms that I’ve gone through recently will be healing and helpful. Forgive. Some hurts are unintentional and come from people who really do love us. Moreover, even … Read More

EXCLUSIVE PRAYER AND MINISTRY UPDATE-041122

Hey All, I wanted to share a couple of sessions from Care Net’s recent Men’s Summit in Dallas at Tony Evan’s church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The most compelling part for me personally was a discussion that featured the stories of five post-abortive men. There were several reasons for this. For one thing, the comradery and chemistry among the men was … Read More

Finding Forgiveness

January marks my sixth year at Care Net and our Church Engagement team is now in the process of revisioning our strategy for a new season. In synch with this, I’ve been thinking a lot about the church’s role in championing the forgiveness of sins. The below—something sent to me personally about a year ago—is one of the heaviest emails … Read More

Deconstructive Thoughts on “Forgetting Those Things Which are Behind”

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14, KJV) (Phil. 3:13-14, KJV) This blog has always been about sharing “constructive … Read More

Is God Male?

Most children’s catechisms answer the question, “Who is God?” with some version of the statement, “He is a spirit and has no body as we do.” A study guide commenting on the Westminster Shorter Catechism’s version of this question explains, “When we say that God is a Spirit we make clear the fact that He is distinct from all things … Read More

What I Learned from Esau McCaulley

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows, there we hung our lyres… O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.” Psalm 137:1-2,8-9, ESV What are we to … Read More

Comfort and Clarity for Polarized Times

***Friends, the following biblical passage and thoughts from Timothy Dalrymple, President and CEO of Christianity Today, was a great encouragement to me this week and I wanted to share it with you. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has … 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