Decades ago a man I deeply admire asked this penetrating question of me, “Is there anyone right now praising God for you because without your advocacy for them they would be hopeless?” My mind instantly swung into justification mode, and I began adding up the money I’d given and boards on which I’d served that assist the poor in some way. But, that wasn’t what he was asking. What he was getting at is this, “Are you personally engaged in the life of a person who is powerless o

With Thanksgiving coming up some of the “prodigals” in your life may be coming home soon. Many of us have teenage, or adult children, or grandchildren who say they are Christians but appear us to be apathetic and luke-warm about following him. We’ve asked them about attending church, or some Christian concert, or other event with us and there’s just no interest, or if they do it’s more out of respect than enthusiasm. I’ve been praying deeply for wisdom how to breakthrough to

“My son believes there may be many ways to God, including other religions.  I know that’s not true but what do I say to him?” The man sitting across from me, asking the question appeared to be a sincere Christian attending a good church.  But his son ran off to college and heard other opinions that sounded more “fair” than the claim of his church and of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except through me.”  John 14:6 And, fairness an

Even if they say they are Christians, your children or grandchildren, may believe in a different “Christianity” than you do! Years ago I served on Spiritual Formation Task Force for a local Christian high school and I was given a book by Christian Smith, entitled, Soul Searching . Under a major grant from the E.I. Lilly Foundation, Dr. Smith, a Christian sociologist, at the University of North Carolina and his team conducted hundreds of face-to-face and phone interviews to fi

Christians talk about “walking in the Spirit” or, being “led by the Spirit,” all the time, but what does that really mean in everyday...

(If you’ve not read last week’s blog, you’ll want to or this one may not make much sense.) The Kingdom (the family business) is the whole...

Have you ever thought of the kingdom of God as the family business? What I’m about to cover in this and next two week’s blog is the basis...

Every church believes God heals people. And, every church encourages prayer for the sick. But, do the elders of your church pray for the...

Last week as I read in my personal devotion time, the story of Jesus arrest and crucifixion I was struck by Jesus prayer in the Garden,...