Many of us lead from a place of strength. We want to give off an image that we have it together by showing off our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses. In our darkest moments, we may try to hide our mistakes or even blame them on others. Author and Christian speaker Brennan Manning said, “I … Continue reading
“Let them be boys.” My wife was right. My four year old and three year old just wanted to search our backyard for dandelions for their mommy. But, calculating the sum of muddy soil plus bare toddler feet, I was trying to avoid the resulting mess that would come with their adventure. “This is why … Continue reading
He was a towering man adorned with stylish wardrobe and a wide smile. He laughed easily as he carried himself with a light-hearted playfulness. This pastor was a student in the 8 week philosophy class I taught for non-traditional students, mostly pastors looking to sharpen their ministry. I remember he had a lot of important … Continue reading
I live in the South. Nearly everyone I know says they are a Christian when asked. Further, it is not uncommon to be asked “where do you go to church?” upon first meeting. Yet, for all the religiosity in the South, I regularly notice a gap between what it means to be a Christian and how people live out Christianity. This may be stating the obvious, but calling yourself a Christian does not mean a lot these days. Continue reading
Last time, I left you with a cliffhanger. I asked why does Jesus say that “blessed are those who don’t see and still believe?” It is not because evidence eliminates faith because Jesus provides more than enough evidence to Thomas and all the other disciples (and us as well). So, why does he say it? The … Continue reading
My wife is a psychologist. I am a pastor. With that combo as their parents, our kids are doomed. That said, my wife recently posted an article about research on the harmful effects of spanking from a psychological perspective which highlighted the need to also address spanking from a Biblical perspective. Here is a summary of the research … Continue reading
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his … Continue reading
So far in this series I have told you that it is important that we know how to doubt our faith and that we can look to the story of ‘doubting Thomas’ for help. I have also asked you to boldly recognize your doubt. Do not shy away from it, but acknowledge and be aware … Continue reading
In the first post in this series, I said that I believe that, through the story of ‘doubting Thomas,’ we can learn some tips for how to doubt our faith. And, as we wrestle with our own doubts, I believe we will find the new life that Christ offers us as we grow in our … Continue reading
“God is just an invention that humans created to deal with the harsh realities of the world.” Those were the words of my sociology professor my first semester of my sophomore year of college. He embodied all that you would expect from a tenured scholar. He was a towering man donning elbow patches on … Continue reading
