We mistakenly understand faith when we… Confuse having faith with having certainty. Forget Jesus said faith that is only the size of a mustard seed avails much. Fail to recognize how much our fears shape our faith. Think that having a hearty or mature faith means I have strong opinions about lots of different issues.Continue reading “Mistakes We Make about Faith”
Category Archives: Faith
“A Hope for Some Glory Other than a Crown of Thorns”
As part of my studies, I am trying to wrap my mind around Alan E. Lewis’s fine book, Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday. You will be hearing much more about this book in days to come as we move through the Lenten season and Holy Week. For today, I will shareContinue reading ““A Hope for Some Glory Other than a Crown of Thorns””
Swim Or Float? Guess What God Wants From Us
If you have read my essays over the last year or two, you will notice a common theme running through them. I am learning to trust God. Yes, after nearly 38 years as a Christian, I am finally learning to let go of my need to understand and trust the Lord. It has been aContinue reading “Swim Or Float? Guess What God Wants From Us”
Beggar of Bread
“Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one.†—Nikolai Berdyaev Recently, a friend visited our family one evening and stayed a long time. I baked cookies during his visit and felt triumphant over that considering I’d been sick for one week and had not bought groceries in nearlyContinue reading “Beggar of Bread”
The Bigness Of God
Silence, it seems, is big business these days. My friend Mike leads silent retreats several times a year. He started with four guys, and now gets close to 80 wanting to go and experience something that is getting harder and harder to find in our day: Silence. I went away for a similar retreat lastContinue reading “The Bigness Of God”
A Most Misunderstood Parable
You gotta count the cost If you’re gonna be a believer You gotta know that the price Is the one you can afford You gotta count the cost If you’re gonna be a believer You gotta go all the way If you really love the Lord. Count The Cost, David Meece An interesting and littleContinue reading “A Most Misunderstood Parable”
A Paint-By-Numbers Life
Sometimes I envy those of other religions. Really, I do. There are times I want a paint-by-number religion, one with a complete set of instructions as to how I am to please the deity we are creating with our brushes. All the 8s get green paint, while the 6s are filled in with yellow. ThatContinue reading “A Paint-By-Numbers Life”
The Life God Is In
By Chaplain Mike “…he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17.27, NLT) As I have talked with friends throughout this year, I’ve noted that we’ve been using a phrase regularly: “This is the life God is in.” OK, it could be better grammatically, but it’s punchy and makes a clear point.Continue reading “The Life God Is In”
Why Is Faith So Hard?
I have friends who not long ago risked all on the call of God, and lost everything. Let’s call them Seth and Emily. They clearly heard God call them to give up all they had and move to another country for a specific task. (I’m sorry I can’t be more detailed, but this is theirContinue reading “Why Is Faith So Hard?”
Violent Faith
We began our look at the subject of faith by asking a simple question: What if Jesus really meant it when he told his disciples things like, “Ask whatever you will in my name and it will be done for you.” What if he did not lay any other rules or requirements on them thanContinue reading “Violent Faith”
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