New implies a chapter ending. Exchange what you have known for an unknown fresh start. I don’t think we always comprehend a God making all things new. Change comes easy when convenient. Rarely, do we experience change in this fashion. Usually, the old chapter ends abruptly without our preparation. My childhood pastor Bill Kirk preached […]
The Necessecity of New Read More »
Your playlist says a lot about you. Each song can represent a memory, emotion or a statement of your personality. Like spaces or events, certain songs carry significance in our lives. Martin Luther said, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the
Board games blur the line of strategy and ruthlessness. I immediately doubt someone who says, “Peter, I have a deal for you…” Their seemingly best intentions have been overshadowed by their perceived competitiveness. Yet, something spectacular happens when you strike a win-win deal. Not just in board games. We love watching our favorite teams making
The Offer on the Table Read More »
We can quote the words of Augustine, “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him.” In spite of knowing this, we find ourselves pacing and wandering. The command “Be Still” sounds like a fantasy. Silence only amplifies our addiction for activity. Because if we are not doing something, then are we really accomplishing
A Prayer for a Restless Heart Read More »
This day rests in between. The tragedy of Good Friday behind us and the triumph of Easter still to come. We have the luxury of knowing the end of the story. Can you imagine the disciples on this day? I bet they paced back and forth replaying their regret. Disappointment resulted from not standing with
Have you ever rushed to the happy ending? Skip a few of the dark chapters or fast forward through the bleak scenes. The story of Good Friday can become like this during Holy Week. Just get us to Sunday and the resurrection. Christ’s death on the cross speaks to us. We want to know that
Pauses can communicate more than words. They act as verbal punctuations asking the listener to stop for a moment. I used to want to fill these spaces with words, but something happens when you let them remain silent. These moments become invitations to share further. Instead of jumping to advice or another topic, the speaker
Last week, Jonathan Merritt’s Jesus is Better Than You Imagined was released. This book challenges a conventional view of Jesus Christ. Merritt shares about his spiritual journeys including seasons of waiting, grace and in the desert. Books like these remind us of our own journeys and how we never walk alone. After reading this last
Repetition, Mundane and Jonathan Merritt Read More »
Two things cause an inordinate amount of anxiety for me: running out of food at a social gathering and a cell phone with no battery life. No food equates to empty plates when guests arrive. No power left in a cell phone means the lack of ability to call or even get directions. To have nothing
Bigger or better. You might have heard of the game. Start with a penny and walk up to random people asking them, “Do you have something bigger or better than this penny?” I last played this game in Washington D.C. for a conference. Our group ended up with a mobile phone from a kiosk by
