There are well-meaning Christians who put much emphasis abiding by correct doctrine, even adding numerous rules of guidelines as rules of conduct. The intention is to construct a barrier around the people of God so that they would know not to stray far from the truth as given in the Word of God. But where … Continue reading Living in the presence of the Shepherd
Christianity
Never alone
I expect most people know where I am headed with this post, but there is some rough terrain to be covered first. Alone with God is a wonderful place to be, but there are a host of other spirits vying for our attention. When destructive thoughts come – anger, envy, lust, suspicion, resentment and the … Continue reading Never alone
Colonial Christianity
The colonial conquerors all considered themselves to be Christians and were convinced that they were bringing enlightenment to the poor heathen of the conquered nations. Francisco Pizarro and his men went for the direct method – they rounded up the Inca leaders, forcibly baptized them and then executed them. In their minds, this expedient served … Continue reading Colonial Christianity
Trust and obey
We must not interpret trust and obey mean that we trust in our obedience. That is works, and we will probably choose to obey that which we think we understand. Rather, we obey because we trust that God has a purpose in what He asks of us, even if we don't understand it. That is … Continue reading Trust and obey
Really Simple Testimony
“Tell what He’s done for you” should be a key part of sharing the gospel with others. It’s more powerful than any canned approach. Our testimony should sound natural and conversational, not scripted like a telemarketer. Nevertheless, there is value in writing out a significant experience to think through which details to include and what … Continue reading Really Simple Testimony
Put down that hammer!
If the only thing in your toolkit is a hammer, it's surprising how many things look like a nail. -Anonymous Some Christians are like that: "If you don't know Jesus, you're lost!" Pow! "You're living in sin." Wham! "You're on the road to hell!" Smack! "You need Jesus in your life!" Thud! All true, but … Continue reading Put down that hammer!
The myth of incompetence
“It’s just not my gift to witness to other people about my faith. I get all flustered and nothing comes out right. Other people can do it, but I just can’t.” Have you ever said something like that? I don’t know if I’ve ever said it, but I’ve certainly felt that way. After experiencing those … Continue reading The myth of incompetence
Foreign to Familiar
The Delta flight was leaving on time. Three of us were strapped in, one next to the other, each finding it easy to make small talk. As the plane lifted off, so did our burdens of office work. We were off to Glorietta, New Mexico, for a week-long conference, and our minds were filled with … Continue reading Foreign to Familiar
Let’s be led’s
A true Christian should be a light emitting disciple (led). Our purpose as a light emitting disciple is not to dazzle folks with our brilliance, but to shed light on their path. We don't want to be a cold light, there needs to be some warmth, but no one should ever get burned from coming … Continue reading Let’s be led’s
What people need from a church
There are three things that every human being needs, and the Christian church is the only institution on earth with the potential to meet those needs. First, there is a longing in the heart of every man, woman and child to understand the meaning of life and their place in it. People who reject God … Continue reading What people need from a church
