A few years ago, I settled in for a movie night and the romantic comedy He’s Just Not That into You unfolded on the flat screen. The story followed the somewhat interconnected and relational dysfunction of nine people for 129 minutes. As the credits neared, the narrator finally divulged the movie’s thesis. “Finding true love is the exception to the rule, the unexpected twist in life’s third act . . . Maybe we are so focused on...
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Many of us know Jer. 29.11. I have a mug on my desk imprinted with: “I know the plans that I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope, and a future.” (NIV) Sometimes I claim this promise like it’s a magic charm, meant to ward off any bad days, or personal difficulty. But that’s not the message of this scripture. Take a minute and read Jer. 29.1-14 in context. God wrote this word...
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Our street evangelism ministry was failing. For the third week, no one showed up for the weekend outreach, and in the dim glow of the streetlights, I asked God to continue his work. A few months later, Jeff and I had dinner. The next summer we started praying for Lansing, MI. once a week in his basement. Eight months later, after training and consulting our pastors, we walked into the porn stores and dark, sweaty bars in downtown...
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When I look at a ministry’s effectiveness, or the impact I’m having as a believer on my world, the questions I ask can be more important than any other factor. My questions must zero in on the heart of the matter, and not measure the outward appearances. For example, when Jesus’ was approached by a rich young ruler, the man’s outward status wasn’t the issue. Neither was the amount of money he could give to...
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The summer of my 12th year, my family climbed into our lizard green station wagon, hitched the pop-up camper to the bumper, and headed West. The humid summer had engulfed Michigan, and my dad saved two weeks of vacation time so we could escape and enjoy the national beauty of Colorado and Wyoming. Thousands of “are we there yet” later, as we drove through the Rocky Mountains the family station wagon coughed and stalled. After a few...
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The world loves to laugh at Christians. They don’t understand living for a purpose greater than ourselves. When we, Christ’s followers, step out and make our intentions front and center, unbelievers are quick to poke fun at our inconsistencies, failures and sometimes outright hypocrisy. For me, this is a problem. I would rather fail while daring greatly than give up and live a mediocre life. Yet shooting myself in the foot with a...
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The Corinthian church was a lot like mine. Young and full of new believers, some had been raised in Jewish faith and came to believe in the Messiah. Others were converts from secular Corinth. The city was a seaport, filled with trade at the crossroads of the world. Diverse and multicultural, Corinth was an ancient New York, New Orleans, or San Francisco. The citizens likely struggled for identity in a melting pot culture immersed in...
Read MoreDuring his hour on the platform, Greg Laurie commented that Christians and church leaders have to be transformed so they can be culturally relevant and authentically connect with the world. Living much of my life in West Michigan, I had to look back at my own journey to faith, and grapple with why his casual transition between point four and five of his notes arrested my attention. Growing up in West Michigan, I have to confess that I...
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“God, I pray you hold back the economic chaos that is flooding our nation. Hold back the political corruption; restrain the social turmoil so that we can reach our destiny.” I listened to this prayer recently in a local church. The pastor passionately asked God to hold back the trends that are harming the cultural, economic, political and social fabric of the United States. To be honest, I was confused. Unless I’m reading a different...
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In the middle of his last conversation, Jesus gives his disciples some of his most comforting and challenging words. He knows what’s about to happen. He’s given Judas permission to betray him and he’s washed his disciples’ feet. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal, and replaced the OT list of rules to earn God’s favor by declaring a New Covenant for god’s people, a covenant of faith in him and a free gift of salvation. Instead of rules...
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