Getting The Most Out Of Church
In today’s Leadership Bites (6 minute leadership podcast), Andy Jones and I talk about a few practical ways to get… Read More
Category "Life With God"
Sundays Are For Sharing
I read some great stuff on a few of my favorite websites / blogs this week – and since Sundays are for sharing, I’m passing them on to you…
This post, “The Problem With Black & White Thinking” by Donald Miller. I really love this part:
“Black-and-white thinking is attractive because it’s reductionistic; it simplifies everything so we don’t really have to comprehend. It allows us to feel intelligent without understanding, and once we are intelligent, we feel superior. People who don’t agree with us are just dumb.”
His 4 tips for not thinking in black and white are… Read More
13 Things I’m Learning In 13 Years Of Being Ashah’s Daddy
Today is Ashah Joy Elizabeth’s 13th birthday… so here are 13 things I am learning in my 13 years of being Ashah’s Daddy:
- Feeling ready to be a good dad isn’t necessary to be one. I didn’t feel ready. I was insecure and unsure about how to be a parent—but when she arrived, I fell in love and that was enough.
- Despite my attempts to control and make everything perfect… Read More
21 Things I’ve Learned In 21 Years Of Marriage
Today is our 21 year anniversary. Yup. 21 years ago, I was 21 years old (and Shari was 22). We had a Friday night wedding – on a budget (which means we had cake at the reception, but not a meal). We were young, in love, and ready to begin our life together.
Here are 21 things I’ve learned in our 21 years of marriage…
- Opposites attract. We did. I’m thankful for our differences (and they also can be frustrating). But we do make each other stronger, better—and we make a great team.
- Hotel sex!
- Her dad was right… Read More
When A Late Night Comedian Preaches
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if a rock star preached? Never mind – we’ve all heard Bono do it. How about a late night comedian / talk show host?
Back in February of 2007, Craig Ferguson gave us a taste…… Read More
Beautiful Words
It’s time for Sunday Shout Outs – where I share some what I enjoyed from around the web this past week. I think you’ll also enjoy the beautiful words in these three blog posts:
This post, “Cough. Breathe. Cancer. Dance.” by… Read More
The People Jesus Is More “At Home” With
The following is a quote from Jean Vanier’s book “From Brokenness To Community.”
The broken and oppressed are teaching me what the good news is really about.
One of the most moving moments for me in the gospels is the meeting of Jesus with… Read More
Your Twitter Bio Makes Me Feel Like A Total Loser
Because I’m a pastor, I pretty regularly get followed on Twitter by other Christian leaders (that I don’t know) from all over the place. And for some reason, I receive a weekly e-mail from Twitter showing me these new followers – along with their profile picture and Twitter bio.
These Twitter bios make me feel like a total loser.
Let me explain. They say things like…
“NY Times Best Selling author of 14 books, senior pastor of the 23,000-member Hope of the World Church, international speaker and business consultant, entrepreneur, recording artist, fashion designer, coach, mentor, mogul, part-time professor of theology, cultural architect, health & fitness guru, Christian radio host, father of 4 beautiful children, husband, man of God, ultra-marathon runner.”
Dang. That’s incredible. How do you do all that stuff?
And thanks for reminding me that I suck.
Even this “Twitter Bio Generator” comes up with bios that sound better than I actually am… Read More
Shareable
Here’s what I read online this week that, my opinion, is shareable…
This wonderfully satirical post, “When Suits Become A Stumbling Block: A Plea To My Brothers In Christ,” by L.P.
This short, beautifully poetic, and… Read More
Good Ideas From Bad Individuals
In my tale of two grandmothers, I described my “bad” grandma…
My swearing-smoking-drinking-gambling grandmother was a constant, loving, generous, steady, faithful, and gracious presence in my life – until she died of lung cancer when I was 19 years old.
Life is interesting that way.
It’s far less black and white than we think. Our categories don’t always have the space for what is actually there. We want to use the labels “good” or “bad,” “sinner” or “saint,” but the truth usually is found in the AND…
We are simultaneously both good AND bad, sinner AND saint.
Paul the Apostle (who is credited with the taking Christianity to the world and writing more books of the New Testament than anyone else) acknowledged this “sinner AND saint” truth when he wrote,
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. —1 Timothy 1.15
I love that Paul didn’t say, “I WAS the worst of them all,” but chose instead to admit, “I AM the worst.”
Here we have the “worst sinner” writing the Bible under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…
He’s both good and bad, sinner and saint.
And so are we.
The idea that we learn all the good things from good people and get all our bad ideas from bad individuals is… Read More