One of my favorite bloggers Seth Godin gets it in his words below on how those around us can read us.  They know there's a lot lying beneath our cute little iceberg. Reminds me of James chapter 3 when James writes that not many should aspire to be teachers because they will be judge moreContinue reading "How do people judge you?"

   Here's what the Irish Jesuits at Sacred Space are saying about true peace ...  Even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. (2 Corinthians. 5:16) In the period after the Resurrection, the little community of Christians grew round the presence of Jesus; but it wasContinue reading "Post-resurrection Peace … the true peace of Christ"

The Columbine High School massacre just passed it's 10th anniversary[April 20, 1999].  Here's a touching, sad, hopeful story about the Columbine principal [Frank DeAngelis] ... still on the job ... and the price he paid, and still pays.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gtCIcoMw6U_g_HHfYcXuMHLHN_4QD97M3B8O1

I have just finished Karen Rabbitt's memoir entitled Trading Fathers -- Forgiving Dad, Embracing God(Winepress Publishing, 2009).  It's a clear, frank account of how Karen was molested by her own father as a young girl and how, in the end, she came to forgive her dad and came to call Father God ... Papa.The storyContinue reading "A touching, redemptive Memoir"

I had a funny conversation with a group of pastors on a 5-hour ride to a meeting.  One said, "I have a question.  'Do you think you are right?'" (Mind you, no topic was on the table.  Just the question.)"Absolutely," one of the pastors answered.Looking at me, the person who put the question on theContinue reading "Are you right?"

Here is extremely seasoned, thoughtful and biblical advice from Pastor John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis) to his staff at the staff and spouse annual retreat earlier this week.  [It's a bit long but a fast read ... Truthfully, reading and digesting it may save you a lot of grief in the future...]Six Biblical Guidelines for LovingContinue reading "How a church staff should love each other"

Nineteen years ago, when our daughter Maddie had just turned one, Jennifer and I befriended a new international student from China named Zhang Bo.  I hung out with Bo ... teaching him to drive, taking him out to American farms and going with him to the grocery store.  He used to come over to our home frequently to eatContinue reading "Befriending Bo"

Just as I was pulling out of the parking lot of the Rolla, Missouri, Vineyard Church, this morning, I thought to snap a picture.I had just spent three-and-a-half hours with pastor Matt Forest, who has been on the staff since 2002.  (His conversion story is so fantastic, hearing it blew me away.  It took him 2 hours to tell meContinue reading "A great idea at the Rolla, Missouri, Vineyard Church"