On Being a Lifelong Learner

On Being a Lifelong Learner

Have you ever had a daydream rudely crashed by a teacher asking you to respond to a question (which obviously you hadn’t heard)? Have you ever struggled to stay awake in a class of no interest to you? Have you ever prayed that not making eye contact with the teacher...
Seeing more clearly

Seeing more clearly

Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” 1 Peter 1: 15,16, MSG These verses from 1 Peter have always intrigued, challenged, worried my brain. Especially God...
I think… know I can

I think… know I can

Someone, somewhere, posited that we use approximately 10% of our brain’s capacity. And should we access even an additional 5%, we would resolve a vast majority of the global relational issues that plague us. Sounds pie-in-the-sky to me, but I found that declaration...
 Bringing hopes into reality

 Bringing hopes into reality

The story goes that bank tellers were once trained to detect counterfeit bills by sorting through stacks and stacks of the real thing. After many days, a counterfeit bill would be introduced to one of the piles. As they made their way through, one piece of paper would...
The Authentic Life

The Authentic Life

Jesus’ example, before he spoke a word, was attention-grabbing, to say the least. His responses were unlike those of his closest friends. He did what they would never have expected, and failed to do what they would have done in his place. He was constantly drawn to...
A PD re-telling of the return of the prodigal*

A PD re-telling of the return of the prodigal*

One might think that a cascading of prophetic Scriptural fulfillments would make Scripture aficionados jubilant. But one might also be wrong. Terribly wrong in fact. The various groups of synagogue leadership (those most familiar with those prophecies) were the most...
What am I missing?

What am I missing?

I’m surprised at how seldom I think of my array of accumulated conveniences. Like the functioning of the all-important, morning coffee machine. Or the arrival of hot water for a shower. Or AC during hot weather and heat in those other months. Or my car starting when...
The 75-day test

The 75-day test

For some, it’s like climbing Mt. Everest. For others, like attempting to win the Iron Man Competition. For still others, it’s like an extended Lenten period, fasting their favorite food. For all of us, it’s a challenge of some consequence. It requires paying attention...
That game’s such a dud!

That game’s such a dud!

Ever since Adam invented it, humanity has gravitated to it like a sinking man to a lifeboat. It is called, ‘find someone to blame,’ the promise being that once blame-shifting is accomplished, rescue is certain. So, Adam blamed Eve for the consumed fruit and we’ve been...
Tag! You’re It!

Tag! You’re It!

Of all the categories of US ambassadorships, there is one that sounds remarkably like the one conveyed upon every follower of Jesus. It is ‘Ambassador Extraordinary,’ defined as: an individual who is the highest-ranked diplomatic minister going on a special mission....