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In the 12-step program, people can get hung-up on step 8: We made a list of all the persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.God completely forgives us for our sins, our missteps, our stupid mistakes.  But we usually (No, always!) have to go back and mend broken relationships.  DoingContinueContinue reading “There is only one kind of healer you can ever be…a wounded healer!”

This morning I read John 15.  Verse 7 jumped at me: 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.I pondered Jesus’ words for a while, asking myself: What is it I want?  Ask anything you wish … Really?I felt compelled toContinueContinue reading “Asking for wisdom from above!”

I counsel and mentor pastors and leaders from very diverse backgrounds, mostly diverse protestant backgrounds.  That makes my job very interesting.  One of my favorite conversation starters is: “Tell me about yourself.”It’s incredibly fascinating to me to hear the spiritual journey of folks who are Methodists and Baptists and Lutherans and Charismatics and Church ofContinueContinue reading “On this can we agree?”

Good reminder from Pastor John Piippo that prayer is when the Kingdom of God invades this present darkness.  [By the way, Pastor Piippo runs a school of prayer in the summer called: Prayer Summer.  I think it’s great.  It’s Piippo’s email reflections on what it means to pray, as he encourages followers to pray 30-60ContinueContinue reading “The rule of God is invading this present darkness”

Last night at the Pontiac Correction Facility in Pontiac, IL, my fellow preacher John Henderson and I passedPontiac, IL, Correctional Facilitythrough 3 gates before entering the yard.  We walked by a 20×20-foot flower garden and a 20×30-foot vegetable garden.  100 yards off in the distance was a soccer field with inmates playing a match.We enteredContinueContinue reading “Preach the Gospel … In season & out of season…”

I’ve heard people say, “I’m an open book.”  Really?  How open are we?  I mean, “Really open.”I talked with a pastor recently and asked him who he felt truly safe with.”Hmmm,” he said. “To be honest, probably no one.””Does anyone know your secrets?” I asked.”Nope.””Your spouse?””Nope.””How does that feel to you?””Don’t know.””What would it mean to exploreContinueContinue reading ““I’m an open book!” … Really?”

If face to face communication doesn’t work — and many never have the courage to really try it — a letter can sometimes serve a purpose.  If you have to write a note, though, my thought is this:* Make it very brief. * Write graciously and write personally. * Do not quote Bible verses.  A pastor wroteContinueContinue reading “Email exchanges to resolve conflict quickly become blowtorches…”

I learned about the  unpredictability of life way back in the summer of the 1964 when I was 8.  I describe and explain it in my column in today’s Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette Sunday column.