Why Silence and Solitude is So Important

We’ve all experienced the awkwardness of silence. Think about the silence we experience at a dinner party when the conversation falls flat or after Uncle Bob unknowingly offends another person yet again. Awkward! I don’t know too many people who appreciate the stifling silence of a long elevator ride in a half-full elevator. The commands, […]

How Jesus Discipled Others

Throughout the Gospels, we catch a glimpse of how Jesus discipled others. Jesus believed in the Twelve despite their common and for some, their sordid, background. Rabbis, at that time, would choose and train the most promising candidates – the best of the best. Jesus took a different strategy. He chose to believe that common […]

Show Jesus discipling people in the boat

Discipling Millennials for Missional Living

I must confess that I feel like an imposter writing a blog on Discipling Millennials for Missional Living. I’m not a Millennial and so everything I know about Millennials is second-hand information. Now, having said that, I did have the privilege of serving as a children’s pastor for several years to young Millennials. Of course, […]

Group of Millennials

Practicing Life-giving Sabbath

Rivendell, an Elven realm in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, is a beautiful haven of rest – a place protected from the dangers plaguing Middle Earth. In the Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien describes the peace that Frodo and his companions experience in Rivendell after narrowly escaping the evil forces bent on destroying […]

Putting off Sabbath means putting off life

Three Steps to Understanding Your Personal Calling

Understanding God’s call on our lives is an important part of living fulfilled and productive lives as Christians. Of course, Scripture describes God’s moral calling for every Christian. Biblical principles guide us as to how we should live. Yet, it would seem that God also has a more specific calling for each person – a […]

How to find calling

Creating a Personal Timeline – Gaining Perspective on the Past to Help Guide You Today

When I first created my personal timeline, I experienced affirmation, healing, and a greater sense of God’s movement in my life. At times, I felt sad over missed opportunities or painful situations. Yet, I also rejoiced, as I saw God mixing the defining moments and seasons into something good. In the Old Testament, the Israelites […]

Three pictures of a person as a child, young adult, and older adult