Dear Christian, The clearest picture of what we truly believe isn't revealed by our knowledge of Scripture or our theological arguments. The clearest, most vivid display of what we truly believe is revealed by how we treat other people. It is by our love or our lack...
There is a huge difference in a community where people live alongside each other, and one where people live among each other. Jesus came to live among us, not just alongside us. Jesus "made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).
Let us pause to acknowledge the unseen goodness around us. We may not see it, but it is always here – a small universe of kindness and compassion – lived out around us every day, unseen but constant. People helping, people caring, people listening. The creators of...
Jesus's understanding of forgiveness was so radical because he did not need people to repent before he accepted them. He did not require a change in behavior before he loved, respected, and related to them. Yet, it was precisely this unconditional love and forgiveness...
Some people believe the alternative to bad religion is secularism, but that's wrong... The answer to bad religion is better religion--prophetic rather than partisan, broad and deep instead of narrow, and based on values as opposed to ideology.
I am convinced that most people do not grow up… We marry and dare to have children and call that growing up. I think what we do is mostly grow old. We carry accumulation of years in our bodies, and on our faces, but generally our real selves, the children inside, are...
Wherever people love each other and are true to each other and take risks for each other, God is with them and for them and they are doing God's will." from Secrets in the Dark
I believe a child who is holding a piece of music will not be holding a gun, a knife, or a torch. More original: Every child wants to be part of a gang....choir is a GOOD gang. And of course, we are building young people through music, not the other way around.
People will often say, "My authority is the Bible." It would be more accurate for them to say, "My authority is what they told me at church the Bible means."
We cannot and do not earn the grace of God. It is already given to us in our baptism. There will always be plenty of people who will want you to think you have to earn it. Don't ever believe them. You couldn't earn it even if you tried. It is free.