-
Forgiveness
The other day I was walking with God and processing my hurt over a friendship that has greatly faded under the intense rays of distance and neglect. It was some healthy, gut-level vulnerability as I expressed my frustration and disappointment and confessed my need to surrender – yet again – my emotions and unmet expectations at His feet. As I walked the mulched trails, I went back and forth between surrendering my feelings and wallowing in them a little longer. I muttered some indictment about actions speaking louder than words, blah, blah, blah. After one pretty decent wallowing when I…
-
Love-Crazy Father
This Sunday I’m preaching on the story of the Prodigal Son (or as I prefer to call it – The Story of the Love-Crazy Father). It was the assigned text for this Sunday and also happens to be my favorite parable told by Jesus. For most of my life, I focused predominately on the prodigal son. Because I get him. I am him. Most of my faith journey with God has consisted of me sneaking back to the pig pen to stay the night because I feel like that is where I deserve to sleep and exist. I felt so…
-
Secret to Joy
There are four commonalities among those who live joy-filled lives: a feeling of being forgiven; forgiving others; a feeling of life purpose; a strong sense of gratitude. Gratitude drives joy. When we focus on what we have rather than what we don’t have, we are grateful. And that brings us joy. For each of us, one of these four commonalities will be a weakness at various seasons of live. They may switch around and move on us depending on life circumstances that we allow to toss us about like waves in the ocean. Learning to intentionally pursue these four commonalities…
-
Elizabeth Olten and Forgiveness
Being home sick today gave me a lot of time to think about what today was going to be like for my youth. I was praying last night and today for you. Praying especially about the ramifications of Elizabeth Olten’s murder, for the things that would be said about the accused, for the many rumors and harsh words that would be said. That was before I even learned about the death this morning of Bill Currie, a teacher at JCHS. I hurt that you have to face such difficult life issues ever – but especially at this age. But I…