Episode 025 – I Walk by Faith Recently I was without a car for a few days. So for one appointment, I took a rideshare car to get there. The driver pulled up. I got in the car. Once I was buckled in, he asked me a question. “Where ya headed?” That question is, honestly, […]
Your theology is just a theory.
Your theology is just a theory. No matter how precious. Even when you can back up each clause with scripture, or appeal to your favorite theologian. Are you balking already? Maybe you’re sure your theology the very truth handed down from the apostles. A lot of us think that! Before you assume I’m telling you […]
I Rest in Faith (TAW024) (Anchor Prayer, Part 4)
Episode 024 – I Rest in Faith I have been addicted to an illusion, a false belief. It made me feel better, and so I keep running back to it. But it’s not real. My illusion? I am in control. Part of growing up, part of maturing spiritually, has been learning this obnoxious, even painful […]
Don’t bypass the narrow gate to growth.
There is a narrow gate that must be passed through if we will experience growth and spiritual maturity. It’s called narrow, not because it’s hard to find, but because so few people want to go through it. We want what lies on the other side—growth, maturity, a greater sense of peace, and awareness of God’s […]
Time to Listen to Survivors of Sexual Trauma (TAW023)
Episode 023 – It’s Time to Listen to the Survivors of Sexual Abuse One of the easiest ways to fail to love well is to assume that YOUR experience is canonical and that others have had the same experience you’ve had. We often do this with survivors of trauma. In this episode Mary DeMuth, author […]
Quote – The way of Jesus.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more concise, yet complete, definition of a Christian as this one from Eugene Peterson: “To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a way of life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us.” Here’s the full context: “To follow Jesus implies that […]
The wilderness you’re in may be exactly what you need.
God, I hate uncertainty. I don’t like not knowing what’s coming next, not having a plan, not being able to make a well-informed choice about a long-considered path forward. I grew up in a church community that trained us well for certainty. To be sure about what’s right and wrong, clear about what happens when […]
We’ve got Glory Upside Down (TAW022)
Episode 022 – We’ve Gotten God’s Glory Upside Down I grew up learning a Christian story that the most important thing was God’s glory. We gave God glory by what we believed, how we behaved, and how we talked about God to other people. Good Christians and Good churches would focus on giving God glory […]
If you’re in the wilderness, you are not alone!
Are you feeling the discomfort of living in between? Something is coming to an end or may already be done. What’s next isn’t clear. Before now the path was apparent, but now? Not so much. Options multiply. It’s hard to know which road is best. In this landscape, goal-making isn’t easy; sometimes, it doesn’t even […]
What is the Anchor Prayer? (TAW021) (Anchor Prayer, Part 3)
Episode 021 – What is the Anchor Prayer? Our church building roof has rock climbing anchors installed on it. It’s a very steep and high roof. Doing maintenance and repair work up there is risky. Those anchor points allow people working on the roof to anchor themselves so they can go about their work and […]
How a driven performer has found healing in a mystical prayer. (A Reflection on the Anchor Prayer)
I rest in faith, trusting Father.I walk by faith, following Jesus.I hear in faith, obeying Spirit.In You, I remain. These 22 words have shaped me over the past two years. They have become how I “pray without ceasing.” They are often a diving board into deeper conversation with the Spirit. They’ve become an ongoing reminder […]
Is Memorized Prayer the key you’ve been missing? (TAW020) (Anchor Prayer, Part 2)
Episode 020 – Is Memorized Prayer the key you’ve been missing? Today I’m going to make a recommendation that is honestly surprising to me. My spiritual life has been deeply impacted by a practice that I looked down on for most of my life. I’m learning I’m not as smart as I thought I was! […]
Why this pastor talks about emotions so dang much.
I’ve worn glasses for a long time. Since 4th grade, I think. Without my glasses, the world beyond ten feet or so blurs into an indistinct mosaic of colored blobs. Not very safe for me to be out and about! Each morning there is a moment of transformation when I put on my glasses for […]
How Abiding is Possible (TAW019) (Anchor Prayer, Part 1)
Episode 019 – How Abiding is Possible Jesus told us to live connected to the vine. We often refer to that as the Abiding Life. If you grew up in the churh you probably heard about that a lot. Well, I wonder… Do you have an ongoing sense of Jesus’ presence in your life? Do […]
The Chapter I forgot to write.
It’s been a little more than eighteen months since The Wisdom Of Your Heart hit the shelves. In that time, I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about the book, and how it connected for them. Or how it didn’t. I’ve learned a lot. I learned that we need to talk about emotional health […]