Holy Week is a season for reflection and soul-searching, a week to re-trace the steps of Jesus toward the cross and to contemplate the depth of God’s love. During this week, Christ followers and spiritual inquirers from all around the globe will be focused once again on the events that led to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Speaking of such holy days, Brian McLaren reminds us, “These special holidays give rise to various liturgical calendars that suggest we should mark our days not only with the cycles of the moon and seasons, but also with occasions to tell our child ..read more

Irish singer and songwriter, Bono, of the band U2 confesses, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God; if we could be more like him, the world would be transformed.” It’s one thing to confess, “I believe in Jesus.” It’s another thing to learn and live by a Jesus worldview. Cultivating a Jesus worldview is the heart of discipleship. In a world filled with diverse ideologies and beliefs, cultivating a Jesus worldview can provide a compass for navigating life’s complexities. Here are 10 key practices to help you foster and deepen this perspective: 1. Read and reflect on the stories and teachings of J ..read more

One good way to affirm and encourage the students in your church is to invite them to regularly participate in the life and liturgy of the church. In I Timothy 4:12 Paul advises his young protégé, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” When I was growing up, the small rural church where I was raised planned a Youth Sunday almost every year. On that Sunday, the junior high and high school students of our church would teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, and lead th ..read more

Popular author and speaker Anne Lamott confesses, “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” To grow spiritually, we must perpetually aim to make more space for grace within and among us. As a penitential exercise for Lent, I invite you to pray the words of Psalm 51:11-17: “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me ..read more

Who is this man called Jesus? Popular author Max Lucado affirms, “The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.” But how can his identity be confirmed? In the gospel of John, not long after Jesus scattered the accusers of a woman who had been caught in an extramarital tryst, those in the crowd became more curious about the identity of the one who dismissed the law professors by simply writing a mysterious message in the sand. A short time later, as Jesus resumed his teaching he announced, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This a ..read more

According to Neil T. Anderson, “Your greatest fulfillment in life will come when you discover your unique gifts and abilities and use them to edify others and glorify the Lord.” While I am not fully sure that discovering your spiritual gifts will lead you to live happily ever after, I am convinced that a deeper understanding of spiritual endowments can help a local church become more missional and less conflictual. In I Corinthians 12:1, as Paul urges the believers to serve and grow, he writes, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed ..read more

There are some moments and memories that we never forget.  One such remembrance is when I first met Dr. Bill Self in 1981 at a banquet on the campus of Samford University.  I was energized by Bill’s after-dinner speech. He quickly became one of my favorite preachers, not just because he was a captivating and motivating speaker, but because he had a contagious love for the local church.  As the years unfolded, Bill became not only my colleague, but a friend and a strategic encourager. We were blessed to have Bill and Carolyn spend a weekend with us in Pensacola in May 2 ..read more

Taking a journey through an engaging book is a soul-nurturing, mind-stretching adventure. Charles W. Eliot contends, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” My appreciation for reading was slow to develop. But when it emerged, it surged. As a teenager, I perceived reading to be a nuisance and somewhat of a necessary evil to attain decent grades in school. However, at some point early in my college experience, I learned to value the gift of reading, not just for assignments or entertainment ..read more

Grief is challenging to deal with at any time of the year, but during the holidays, grief can be deeper, darker, and more unpredictable than at other times. Why does grief seem to turn up the volume during the holiday season? I think there are at least three reasons that grief is more amplified from Thanksgiving through Christmas. First, the nostalgia surrounding the holidays and other special occasions prompts us to recall memories more readily. Second, these events tend to frame the absence of our loved ones. For example, a chair that was occupied at the family table may be vacant this year ..read more

Someone wisely advised, “Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.” Advent helps us to take a scenic and reflective route to Christmas, which includes devotional reading, prayer, and reflection which are disciplines that nurture our spiritual health in all seasons. If you prefer to go “paperless” in your devotional reading during Advent, there are many inspiring resources available online. When I was in high school the student ministry at my home church challenged us to begin the practice of a daily “quiet time.” Since those days my devotional time has n ..read more