Our thoughts can be “like monkeys jumping around in a banana tree,” Henri Nouwen writes. (The full quote is in our article on “Solitude and Silence”.) Have you noticed any monkeys jumping around in your brain? Do you find yourself over-stressed, distractible, irritable, judging yourself or others, or anxious? That’s the impish monkeys! They screech…
If your church isn’t growing numerically or in spiritual depth or if it has been torn apart by conflict a major reason may be the neglect of Sabbath. It’s through continual Sabbath rest that we learn to trust God, waiting on his leadership and joining his work — rather than trying to control people and…
Your fingerprint is unique to you — it’s a physical mark of your identity. What about your personal identity? What defines who you are? Imagine if the cross of Jesus Christ was the most dominant marking of your self-image? You’d know that you are so loved! You’d be so stable and confident! I show you…
The seven last words of Jesus cry out, “You are unforsaken by God!” But tragically we don’t hear them that way. We need a new vision of the cross of Christ. We need fresh wording for Jesus’ message of unfailing delight. Because if we’re not care-full the horrible suffering and darkness of the cross obscure…
I love adrenaline and how it makes me feel energetic, confident, important, even elated. And I get more work done in less time! Adrenaline is one of the body’s natural antidepressants and anti-anxiety agents. It’s truly a wonder drug! Just writing this sentence I’d like to get a hit of that stuff now! It’s difficult…
“I’m busy all the time,” a pastor told me. “And I love it!” But a few years later he blew out and lost his church. Then he let me inside the world of his soul. “Growing my church was like a drug,” he confessed. “I miss being the one in charge and on stage. I…
“The reason I share my junk with you,” a pastor disclosed. “Is because you’re not a monkish spiritual formation guy. I can’t relate to the contemplative spiritual direction types.” We hear this a lot from pastors. This is one reason why in last week’s Soul Shepherding blog/email I blurted out, “Spiritual Disciplines are Dung!” I…
Putrid smelling dung — that’s what spiritual disciplines become without love. My comment surprised the pastor I was coaching. But I heard Dallas Willard say on a few occasions something like, “The disciplines for life in Christ are not what is important. We make too big a deal about them.” He was concerned about legalism,…
Paul uses 70 expressions of joy in his short letter to the Philippians! Seventy! Reading them infects us with his “good virus” of devotion to Jesus. To joy in Jesus is the best way to start our day and our New Year. It’s a surprising joy that Paul exudes. Outwardly, he has no reason to…
In a few months I’m going to be a “Papa!” Our daughter Jennie is pregnant with a baby girl! This is helping Kristi and me have a fresh and joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. The precious gift of a baby girl reminds me of Jesus’ free gift for you: God is your Abba…