We navigate a toxic world of easily offended people that includes those who seem to delight in offending and demeaning others. A recent Facebook discussion on this came up with a helpful metaphor on how to tone down some of the discord. Most of us, myself included, tend to think we’re correct and others would benefit by accepting our beliefs and values. So we share them, they resist, and we up the game. We get more strong and loud, they get more resistant, emotions grow and insults fly. Not good, and relationships often fracture. Perhaps we err by…
Read MoreFound in Translation
Death has invaded my thoughts of late. One of my best friends passed last year from brain cancer. Several friends have died from COVID. And earlier today, our church’s home group met at the home of a member: he inside the family room, we outside on the patio with an open window between. Multiple cancers are about to take him home. We expressed our appreciation of him, of the gifts he brought, we sang a song, and prayed. Out of the blue, I remembered…
Read MoreComplexity's Paradox
After four years of spiritual searching and an inability to make needed changes on my own, I surrendered control of my life to the only being worthy of it. I certainly didn’t meet that standard. The ride since has been wild. I’ve pastored churches and sinned and grown, written books and sinned and grown, taught at Christian universities and high schools and sinned and grown, retired from full time work and sinned and grown. And the further I travel…
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Slowing Our Spirit: Peace
In my lifetime of 72 years, I’ve seen the pace of life increase dramatically. Traffic congestion has almost ruined southern California. The cost of housing has skyrocketed, usually requiring two income families to make it. COVID and our partisan political divide add stress. Commercials and keeping up with others increase our obsession with having newer and better stuff. So how do we respond? We worry. We stress. The pressure overwhelms us. And that worry often pushes God out of the picture—it’s up to us to deal with all this. But…
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Transcending These Times: Joy
Hard times to be happy, aren’t they? COVID: the deaths and shutdowns. Partisan politics: the strife and putdowns. Economic difficulties: job loss and uncertainty. But perhaps we’re seeking solace in the wrong spot. Happiness derives from what’s happening: good times make us happy, bad make us sad. And these times qualify as bad, in so many ways. So, as we prepare for Christmas, let’s change our focus from happiness to…
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Getting Beyond Ourselves: Love
So, looking back to Monday’s post, how do we maximize our opportunities for Jesus to show up unexpectedly? Perhaps by striking, hard, at the first fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love.” Nothing so immobilizes Satan and activates Jesus as a commitment to transcend our innate self-centeredness by opening our lives to love. The more we love, the more open we are to the God who loves. But…
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Digital manipulation by Jeff Boyer
Baby Cheeses
Yeah, slightly irreligious, and we’ve all heard stories of Alexa’s mishaps. But a profound truth exists here. Jesus shows up unexpectedly, without needing Alexa. The King of Kings didn’t show up in a palace, but unexpectedly in a stable. The Lord of Lords didn’t show up at the head of a conquering army, but as a helpless infant. Most of us have experienced that, where Jesus unexpectedly steps in and…
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So, What Now?
Well, the votes are in, the count nears an end, and subject to recounts and lawsuits and the Electoral College, we likely have a decision. As my rough estimate, this makes about 1/3 of us exuberant, 1/3 of us angry, and 1/3 OK with it. Feelings still run high, because Christians on both sides felt deeply, finding biblical reasons for their vote. But regardless of how our candidate did, what comes next for…
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