Episode 052 – Childlike Faith vs. Childish Faith (With Pastor Mandy Smith) Often the church seems in a panic to avoid the influence of culture, but what if the church is already fully bought into the assumptions of culture? Western culture assumes that strength, leadership, and being right are the way of success. Does the […]
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When the Garden runs wild.
I’ve been working to remove unhelpful metaphors from my thinking these days. In our accomplishment-focused, hustle-paced world, many of our central metaphors are mechanistic. We’re thinking of our hearts and our minds like machines, or assembly lines, or computers. These metaphors, however, do us harm because we are not machines.
Faith When You Don’t Feel Faithful. (TAW051)
Episode 051 – Faith when you don’t Feel Faithful (With Ben Stenke & Matt Tebbe) The life of a follower of Jesus is not about assent to an idea, or rigorous attention to a life of religious activity. Matt Tebbe says, “There aren’t two things: faith and action. There’s just one thing: Faithful Action.” We […]
Consider Your (Inner Life) Gardening Tools
Hustle culture surrounds us. Coaches and motivational speakers offer the secrets to productivity. We’re motivated (or maybe warned) that we all have the same 24 hours! The implied question is, “Why aren’t you making the most of yours?” Even pastors and spiritual coaches, who you’d think would know better, add to the noise. Do more. […]
Your Heart is a Garden
Increasingly, the passage of time seems a blur. We’re already a month into 2023! These midwinter months push us inward. Blankets, sweaters, and hot beverages are tangible evidence of our desire for sanctuary and peace. Yet, instead of going into hibernation, this inward drive can provide a natural time for reflecting on who we are. […]
Needing Rest for Christmas?
This year what I need from Christmas is rest. I suspect I’m not alone in that.
Letting God Change Our Minds. (TAW050)
Episode 050 – Letting God Change Our Minds —or, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Devotional (With Jonathan Puddle) What do you do with an opportunity that comes your way that isn’t right for you? That happened for Jonathan Puddle, and he turned into something beautiful.
Do Christians Hate Forgiveness? (Are we Jonah?)
Not long ago, the president announced an initiative to relieve some of the pressure of escalating student loan costs and predatory practices with a small loan forgiveness program. The response among many Christians has been deeply fascinating. Social media posts on the subject have mile-long threads of replies. Strident articles are being published. People have […]
Church, Stop Acting Like a Hot Topic. (TAW049)
Episode 049 – Church, Stop Acting Like a Hot Topic—or, Building a Church People Actually Want To Go To (With Kevin Makins) Why would anyone bother to go to church? I don’t mean why would Christians bother. I mean, if someone outside of the church was thinking about getting involved, why would they? What might […]
The Lamb is the Key: Why So Many Christians Read Revelation Wrong
John’s Apocalypse has been a troublesome book since the beginning. Many interpreters, taking their cue from the Revelator’s promise to “show what must soon take place,” have seen in Revelation a coded sequence of end-time events. The only work remaining is to decode the symbols to reveal the book’s one true meaning. Or is it?
Empathy Is Not A Sin. (TAW048)
Episode 048 – Empathy Is Not a Sin (With Becky Castle Miller) Recently a number of Christian leaders and teachers have been making waves saying that empathy is a sin–or at least something that good Christians need to be very careful with. Why would they say this? What do they get out of it? And […]
Lent Reflection – Do I find myself condemning other’s faith or spiritual practice?
Mark 14:1-9 is the scripture I’m spending time with today – when a woman anoints Jesus to the surprise and consternation of the other dinner guests.
Lent Reflection – Am I drawn to apocalyptic end-time teaching?
Luke 21:5-33 is the scripture I’m reading today for Lent, where Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple in apocalyptic terms.
Lent Reflection – Do I mistake my religious observance for a life that pleases God?
Today’s reading for Lent is Mark 11:12-23, Jesus’ dramatic act in the temple and his odd interaction with a fig tree.
Lent Reflection – Do I expect Jesus to make my life and the world what I want it to be?
Today is the 38th day of Lent. I’m reading Luke 19:28-44 today, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to crowds of hopeful and adoring fans.