God is at Work in Your Life Story!
When we all feel disconnected from God or insignificant, God can encourage us through the supernatural ways he works through others, including mundane things and brokenness in our own lives.
William Law on “The Importance of Intention”
William Law says that the best and happiest life is to seek to please God in all that we do. Sadly, many who identify with Christ do not intend this life.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain: 7 Minutes to Heaven!
It takes just seven minutes to read or listen to Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain — even less to read this Bible study summary on Luke 6. Wow! When was the last time you heard a seven minute sermon? You’ve never heard such a masterpiece as this one! If we give seven minutes to listen…
Lord, Bless the Man Who Keyed My Car
I took Briana, age 18, on a “Daddy Date” to an Angels’ baseball game. We got shut out, but we enjoyed being together. We shared a meal and snacks from our perch on the very top row behind home plate. We talked about all sorts of things and we reminisced on the fun times we had…
Enthralled with Jesus to Become Like Him
Most people would say, “I want to be more like Jesus.” I’m sure you would say that. But few of us know much about how to be genuinely transformed. The standard approaches to spiritual growth today aren’t likely to work. Regular church attendance and quiet times just aren’t enough — even if you add in lots…
Paul’s Curriculum for Christlikeness
Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul in AD 60 from Rome where he was under house arrest. He wrote this letter because the people in the church at Colosse were being misled from their faith in Jesus and devotion to God. They thought they could live by Jesus and legalism or Jesus and worldly…
Jesus, Psychotherapy Research, and Life Change
Some people who seek help with personal struggles from a counselor get help resolving their problems while others do not. Some clients in psychotherapy overcome depression and anxiety. Some couples in marriage counseling resolve their differences. Some alcoholics in AA learn to live sober and healthy lives. Some people being discipled by their pastor learn…
A Cheerleader Gets in the Race
When Bill suggested our family run a 10K “Turkey Trot” race together on Thanksgiving morning I was surprised. Our youngest daughter Briana and I have been watching, supporting, and cheerleading Bill, David, and Jennie as they run marathons and do triathlons, but I never imagined nor desired to run even a 5K race. Then Bill…
How to Read the Sermon on the Mount
I was taught in seminary that the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 to 7) wasn’t one sermon of Jesus’, but a collection of his sayings that Matthew assembled and that I was to obey. It was confusing to me. I saw the highest ideals of morality in attitude and behavior and the best advice…
Transforming Your Feelings and Emotions
This is an updated version of a Bible study I did in 2006 on the role of feelings/emotions in spiritual formation in Christ. It is inspired by Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart. This article on feelings is part of a series from my class for counselors on “How People Change.” (See my other articles…