Advent catches me off-guard every year with the reminder that God may be “in his heaven” but all is not, in fact, right with the world.
A Preface to the Question of Why There is Evil
June 28, 2023 by
For almost five decades, I have been considering, thinking about, reading, and studying the problem of evil and suffering.
Connections 06.25.2023: Good to Know
June 18, 2023 by
Those of us who grew up in churches and denominations that were “evangelical”—in the sense of sharing the Good News (from the Greek, euangélion)—can probably rattle off quite a few Bible verses that we learned to lean on as foundations of faith.
Formations 05.21.2023: Be Good
May 14, 2023 by
Two thousand years of preaching and teaching have provided ample—though sometimes contradictory—guidance on what “good” looks like.
Crossroads: The Good Samaritan
July 18, 2022 by
As a young teenager, I went with my youth group to a soup kitchen one Saturday morning to feed the homeless. Several of my friends were going, and I wanted to have fun with my friends.
Connections 07.10.2022: Being Good
July 3, 2022 by
There are times when reading, reflecting on, and writing about Scripture is a relatively easy, fun endeavor. (Admittedly, I may have an unusual definition of “fun.”)
Formations 01.09.2022: Good News
January 2, 2022 by
“Gospel” comes from Old English god spell, “good news.” That second word, spell, is related to the word spiel. A spiel is a speech, often a sales pitch intended to persuade.
Formations 10.03.2021: Good Trees and Bad Trees
September 26, 2021 by
Many of Jesus’ teachings use common imagery from nature or daily life. That makes them easy to picture and remember. He said that if we have even the smallest amount of faith—small as a mustard seed—we can do great things for God (Mt 17:20).
Good Talking to You
March 3, 2021 by
My prayer life has had its ups and downs, its verbal love feasts, its spats and silent treatments. But this is the nature of prayer, a catch-all for everything said and unsaid.
Connections 10.27.2019: Too Good for Our Own Good
October 20, 2019 by
If you are of my generation, you probably know the song “Spirit in the Sky.” You may know it even if you aren’t of my generation. It’s been used in lots of movies, television shows, and commercials.
Formations 04.22.2018: The Ultimate Teammate
April 15, 2018 by
Football great David Humm recently passed away at the age of 65 from multiple sclerosis. His former college coach, John L. Smith of the University of Nebraska, remembers him as both a gentleman and the ultimate teammate. According to Smith, Humm “saw what the game was all about, and the game was all about being a good teammate.”
Connections 04.22.2018: Questioned because of a Good Deed
April 15, 2018 by
Like many faithful followers of Jesus over the centuries—people who took a stand for those who were oppressed and hurting—Peter and John were arrested and tried. And for what reason? Because they helped someone in Jesus’ name.
Connections 11.19.2017: Deborah, a Good Leader
November 12, 2017 by
Bible stories about female leaders are rare. And I’ve been in churches whose ministers have attempted to explain away female leadership with excuses like these: “When God can’t find a good man, God has to use a woman.” “Notice that the woman isn’t ruling over men. She’s instructing other women or taking care of children.
All That Once Was Good
August 16, 2017 by
Major League Baseball and the burgeoning church down the street from my house: I have developed a suspicion of both of these for many of the same reasons. Don’t get me wrong. I love baseball, and I love the church. But something is not quite right.
Asking Good Questions in Bible Study
March 14, 2017 by
Asking good questions communicates at least two things to learners. First, it says they are valued, that each person has valuable contributions to the group. Second, asking good questions says that the leader wants to hear what the learners think.
Formations 01.01.2017: Good and Best
December 25, 2016 by
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were willing to give up almost anything to achieve it? You may know parents who scrimped and saved to send their children to college. You may know stories of athletes or artists who spend hour after hour perfecting their skills.
“Thank You, Jesus”
June 15, 2016 by
For years a friend of mine faithfully visited his mother in a nursing home. On each visit, en route to her room he passed a thin Alzheimer’s-ridden woman in the hallway. Red-faced and wheelchair-bound, she repeated, “I want a good deal.”
Crossroads: My Shepherd
April 18, 2016 by
Most of the time, I associate this Psalm with funerals. I don’t like to read this Psalm because it brings to mind sadness and pain. And yet, this Psalm is all about peace. It is also about being treasured.
Connections 03.20.2016: Good Intentions
March 13, 2016 by
I believe Peter, who could be the patron saint of those who mean it until it matters, was serious when he told Jesus he’d never desert him and wouldn’t deny him even if it cost him his life….I have a theory about what happened.
Having a Good “Hare” Day
January 12, 2016 by
“I never lecture,” the teacher bragged. “Lectures bore teenagers. I just throw a topic out there and let them talk about it.” It is true—lectures can be boring. They can also be entertaining and insightful.
Uniform 02.08.2015: A Need for Fresh Eyes
February 1, 2015 by
In every community, there are stories that have been told so many times that people develop a shorthand code for telling them. For my family, the mention of “sunny-side-up eggs” evokes a cautionary tale against overeating before church.