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The example of the Apostle Paul and his colleagues reminds us that our leadership isn’t all about us.

Today, I’d like to suggest another way to be encouraged in the life-examination process. I’m talking about art. I believe that art in its various forms can help us pay closer attention to how we’re living. Of course art serves many other purposes than this—ranging from self-expression to inspiring joy, social critique, and much more. But art can also help us see how we’re living from a fresh perspective.

Genuine faith isn’t just something inside. It is expressed in action, in words and deeds, even in our daily work.

True longevity is found in Jesus.

Mt. Everest draws people from around the world for the simple reason that it is the highest mountain on earth.

Ephesians 5:15 invites us to what we in the De Pree Center have been calling “inner work.” Yes, we also should pay attention to our actions. But careful attention will look beneath what we do to what’s going on inside of us. It will examine our thoughts and feelings, our longings and losses, our hopes and fears, our hates and loves. 

Living intentionally in God’s presence isn’t just something we do during religious observances and in our private lives. Yes, we walk before God when we gather with others for worship, when we work for justice, when we spend times with our families and close friends. But, like the writer of Psalm 116, we have been saved by God so that we might live consciously in his presence and for his purposes every moment of every day.

I know people who live an inviting life. I’m not using the word “inviting” in the ordinary sense here. If we say something is inviting, we mean it’s attractive or desirable. The lives of the people I’m thinking of are generally inviting in this way. But I’m using “inviting” in a more active sense. The people I have in mind are always inviting people into their lives: Come have dinner with us! Join us at the concert! Sit for a while and let me know what’s going on in your life!