Whitewater Experiences
Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. —1 Chronicles 28:20I was enjoying the start of my first whitewater rafting experience—until...
View ArticleWhen the Going Gets Tough
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.” James 1:12There I was driving along, half hypnotized by the steady flow of traffic. I glanced at the car ahead of me. The bumper sticker read, “When the...
View ArticleAnybody for Servanthood?
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." Matthew 20:26In politics, the paths to success and significance are paved with the right contacts, the right...
View ArticleLiving Here for There
“Our citizenship is in heaven” Philippians 3:20Victoria Perez watched as the Cessna touched down on the road in the distance. When she was sure it was him, she shouted to her children, “That’s your...
View ArticleNow Appearing . . . Jesus!
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14If I were God—and I know a lot...
View ArticleOpen-Book Test
“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8Have you ever taken an “open-book” test? At first blush they seem like a piece of...
View ArticleThe Quarter In Your Pocket
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. —James 5:16Some things are irresistible. For me, it’s bubble-gum machines. I can hardly resist the urge to watch one of those colorful...
View ArticleA Boost of Courage
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. —Hebrews 12:2When my son Joe was a child, I took him to the local YMCA for swimming lessons. I could almost see an Olympic gold medal swinging...
View ArticleGod’s Instrument
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth." Psalm 100:1I’ll never forget my conversation with Erin, who is an accomplished violinist. As we were talking about violins, I asked her whether or not the...
View ArticleDare to Call Him “Dad”
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis has...
View ArticleThou Shalt Not Be a Bystander
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed.” Psalm 146:7In 1955, an African-American Christian woman in her 40s refused to surrender her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. As a result,...
View ArticleOn Purpose
We . . . are being transformed into [Christ’s] image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:18Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life has had an unbelievable run on the...
View ArticleTwo-Way Street
“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14Ever had a one-way friendship? You know the drill—people who always need a favor but never give anything in return. Every time they come close,...
View ArticleThe Right Answer
"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him"— 1 John 5:1When Jesus asked a question, it was not because He...
View ArticleGetting Closer to God
“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness.” Isaiah 58:10With e-mail and text messages, the joy of letter...
View ArticleShe Loves Me, . . . She Loves Me Not
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15Did you ever try to figure out whether or not someone you loved, loved you...
View ArticleAre You Down With It?
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” Luke 6:27In the early hours of the morning, five drug dealers kidnapped Buster Soaries and drove him to a vacant lot. They...
View ArticleLiving With a Clear View
“Offer your bodies as living sacrifices . . . this is your spiritual act of worship” Romans 12:1I love Wrigley Field in Chicago. But like most old ballparks, it has the necessary but aggravating...
View ArticleCause for Rejoicing
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!” Philippians 3:1I’ll never forget the Sunday morning when I was hanging out in the hall with a bunch of my “cool” junior high friends before Sunday school....
View ArticleFinding Jesus in the Loop
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40My friend Craig Phillips was a 27-year-old rising star in Chicago’s corporate world. His natural drive...
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