Absolute Dependence

Friedrich Schleiermacher. Yes, I know. You never heard of him. He died in 1834. He is sometimes called the father of modern liberal theology.

The German theologian was on my mind a couple of weeks ago because I was teaching a class on the origins and content of liberal theology; not something I do that often. When I googled him to see if his name was showing up in any recent articles, oddly, there it was in a June 27 Washington Post article about Donald Trump. 

Be Quick...to Listen

The following is an updated version of a MCM published some time ago

Sometimes we need a mind change to overcome a challenging circumstance like an illness or a loss. Sometimes we need a mind change to overcome an obstacle that could stop a good work. But very often we need a mind change because our minds are leading us to some wrong behavior.

James writes: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19).

Sharing My Password

This time last year, my mom ended her journey in this world and inherited the blessings promised to disciples of Jesus. Now I look forward to our reunion in the fullness of the Age to Come.

Shortly after her passing, I shared in this space how I found in her bedside drawer a very small piece of paper about the size of a post-it note on which she had written this:

A Prank or a Plan?

From time to time I need a reminder of the point made seven years ago in the following Mind Change Moment:

Seven billion people now live on this planet. Each day they go in at least seven billion directions. There is no shortage of activity in our world. It is one busy place. But is there a plan? Is there any purpose behind the universe? Are we here for a reason? Did someone put us here who had a plan for our lives? When we ask such questions we are wrestling with one of the greatest philosophical and spiritual issues of all time.

Overcoming Disappointment

Life brings us some exhilarating moments as well as some tough disappointments. It is interesting to look at the latter word: dis-appointment. You thought you had an appointment with something good, encouraging or uplifting. But you were “dissed.” Disappointments are so hard to take that they are often  described as “bitter disappointments.”

"I Don't Deserve This"

Recently, I heard someone share a thought that is so valuable and helpful to me that I feel it must be passed on, and I have asked for her permission to share it with all of you.

Our sister in Christ shared about a particularly difficult patch of life that she and her husband had been through and how as different challenges mounted up, she thought of how many years they had sought to be faithful to God and how their lives surely demonstrated that faithfulness. But in the midst of the recent problems, she thought resentfully, “I don’t deserve this!” With that posture, she resisted efforts being made to bring resolution and help.

Conflict as Opportunity

While there are a few unusual people who seem to thrive on conflict, most of us would rather avoid it. We are attracted to things pleasant, and we look forward to happy interactions. Dread is the emotion that most of us feel in anticipation of conflict or before some planned time to resolve conflict. Some of you may be feeling it right now because of some situation in your life.