Beneath every behavior there is a feeling. And beneath each feeling is a need. And when we meet that need rather than focus on the behavior, we begin to deal with the cause, not the symptom.
01860 – Dealing with Causes, Not Symptoms
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01345 – Characteristics of Repentance
Repentance isn't about blame, or avoiding the cost of being blamed. It's about putting on a new mind, that is, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes, changing one's opinions and behaviors in order to come closer to God's desire. Repentance seeks change, not blame....
01318 – Faith: Exploring, Exposing, & Testing
To have faith is to explore--and go on exploring--the life of the spirit on the only journey that matters: that of becoming a more rounded and authentic human being. It is to expose yourself to what has been thought of most value by past generations and test it in the...
01053 – Unconditional Love vs. Unconditional Approval
We often confuse unconditional love with unconditional approval. God loves us without conditions but does not approve of every human behavior. God doesn’t approve of betrayal, violence, hatred, suspicion, and all other expressions of evil, because they all contradict...
00630 – We Dare to Follow God’s Way in Hope
Resurrection means God’s way prevails. When Jesus died, most thought his teachings died with him, overpowered and silenced by the might of “the system.” The power of entrenched interests seemed triumphant. We understand. Experience teaches us large systems and even...
00627 – Jesus Provoked His Death
Jesus’ violent end was the logical conclusion of his proclamation and his behavior. Jesus’ passion was the reaction of the guardians of the law, of justice and morality, to his action. He did not simply passively endure death, but actively provoked it. His...
00601 – Is Something Wrong?
Any time the Bible is quoted to defend behavior that is not motivated by the law of love, something is wrong.
00529 – Nurturing the Presence of God
We have resorted to magical categories and overlook God’s gift of sacred significance in the commonplace events of our lives. As a result, we may choose to take a particular job because of what we describe as God’s leading, but then do the job with little or no sense...
00352 – Failing to Behave
This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behaviour we expect from other people.
00193 – Guests, Not Hosts
If our churches aren’t very inclusive, it might be because too many of us have mistaken ourselves for the Giver of the Feast. We’re not hosts extending invitations. We’re guests among guests. Yet we behave as if having arrived earlier than others has given us...