Sometimes when we disagree with someone, one or both parties believe the engagement can’t be over until there is a clear winner – till all parties agree on who or what is “right.” This is an unfortunately common dynamic in human interactions because in so many situations there is no

Lyra (my three year old daughter) was sitting quietly in a chair on our back deck – a very unusual thing for our talkative and active little girl. I sat down beside her and asked, “How was school today?” Looking at her hands and in a sad little voice she

On August 28th, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of an endless sea of black Americans and white Americans and gave these words to the longings of every soul who had gone to incredible lengths to stand with him on that hot summer day: And so even

[This is an excerpt from a sermon I recently preached.] Later on Jesus would grow up and he would tell this story that helps us understand the joy, the magic, and meaning of Christmas (Luke 15:11-32) . There was once a wealthy man who had two sons. His youngest son

Why the next mass killer* could be almost any of us and what this has to do with Christmas. Every time a mass killing happens we ask all the questions, we argue vehemently over possible solution and preventative measures, and then in the end – burnt out by the bickering

Jesus tells us both to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). I have spent a lot of years wrestling with what is the faithful thing to do when the two commands come into conflict. In violent confrontations is it right to use force to

I just found this in an old file folder.  I never published it but it was definitely something I needed to read again. Most of my life I’ve heard, “God’s timing is different than ours.” What people usually mean by that is that God doesn’t do what we want when

What is it to you? This is a question that Jesus asked one of his disciples and it is one of the most important questions, I believe, for all of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had been challenging Peter to follow him (Jesus) out of love for him (Jesus). Jesus also made

[This is a two-part series. Check out the first part HERE.] How do you teach children compassion while protecting them from harm? Suffering often enhances our ability to have sympathy and compassion for others. I want those qualities for my children. I want them to be sympathetic people, but I

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. – 1 John 3:16 I love God because God first loved me I love God because when I was so incredibly lonely and hurting God gave me the most incredible wife, companion, and friend.