Living for the kingdom of God is the antithesis of living selfishly. It means being rich “toward God,” that is, investing in the kingdom of God, “enjoying this world, as though we had no enjoyment, for the form of this world is passing away’.
All tagged faith
Encountering God at the Gate of Heaven
My father is a professional artist, and when I was five years old, our local church commissioned him to paint a mural of St. John of God. John was born in Portugal in 1495 and was a soldier before he had a personal encounter with God. After this radical encounter, he believed his vocation was to serve the sick and poor, and he was often found cleaning the wounds of lepers. My father's painting depicted the leper whose feet St. John was washing, as the leper miraculously transformed into Christ. That powerful image impacted me as a child, has remained with me, and has become a part of my pastoral identity as a hospital chaplain.
Does God Provide Miraculous Escapes?
Perhaps God’s miraculous rescues, when and if they happen, aren’t easily verifiable. Maybe they depend on faith to see these divine interventions.
What is Your Relationship with Fear?
The goal in effective leadership is not to eliminate fear but to make it a worthy partner. Fear is designed to be your friend until you make it your boss.
Faithfulness Over Outcome
I will leave you with this encouragement: God is pleased with your faithfulness, not a human-perceived outcome.
Trouble
When trouble comes—and it will come!—faith in the God who is at work in the world must be at the center of our attention.
The Sacred Pastoral Encounter: Some Observations by a Seasoned Chaplain
Along the way, I learned much about walking with patients and others, about relying on God’s Spirit to guide me, and about finding ways of keeping myself balanced.
An Empty House: Luke 11:24-26
Self-righteousness is simply an empty house, a risky spiritual condition that attracts all kind of demons. Our house must be filled with God’s Spirit.
Hope is the Thing
Hope is the thing. Not wishful thinking about a job raise or whether your football team will win, but Hope as the Christian vision for the living of our days.
Exemplar, Mentor, Soul Brother, Friend
Proverbs’ wisdom reminds us that a friend sticks closer than a brother and is of immeasurable value. John Willis’ holy living and substantial friendship transformed my life.
The Old Man and the Sea, Hopelessness and Christian Faith
Faith in God gives meaning to our life and provides us with the emotional and spiritual strength necessary to endure the harshest realities.
Worship Anyway
In moments of disorienting devastation, it is not uncommon to direct our hurt and displeasure toward God. God can handle us weeping through our prayers or railing in rage.
The Christian Concept of Hope
When we face the unknown, we are demonstrating a different type of faith to the world, and we may have the opportunity to share about how God has been faithful in our lives and the lives of others in the past.
Praying through Silence
So, even if we pass through the waters, even if we walk through fire, we can find rest in knowing that God has chosen us, redeemed us, and won the battle for us.
Virtuoso Christians
The gradual climb up this figurative staircase leads us upward toward becoming virtuosos rather than just admirers of the Christian lifestyle.
Event Spotlight: ElderLink Arkansas
We recently sat down for virtual conversations with our church host (Chris Benjamin) and our breakout session leaders (Mark Hamilton, Grady King, John Knox, Roland Orr, and David Wray).
Where Is Your Citizenship?
Our hope and our expectations are in Christ and from Christ. Above all else, the Gospel shapes our lives—our identity, our character, our actions, our interactions, our priorities.
We Need to Tell the Rahab Jesus Story
Faith is the key, not how good we are. Rahab was not delivered because she was good, but because of her faith.
Event Spotlight: Ministry Amidst Grief and Hope
We recently sat down for virtual conversations with our keynote speaker (Don McLaughlin) and our breakout session leaders (Cheryl Bacon, Eddie Sharp, Dennis Conner, Omar Palafox, and Carson Reed).
The Story of Summit
This fall, we will seek to discover what it means to abide with God not only amidst the challenges of life but also through the joys and hopefulness that emanate out of that relationship.