The Oxymorons We Live With
I think the New Testament has a couple of apparent oxymorons. The first is “crucified Messiah”. Keep in mind I’m calling these apparent oxymorons because, though they might seem absurd, in God’s wisdom they are simply true.
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The Spiritual Practice of Disagreeing (Without Being Disagreeable)
Last week, a guy came to our city. He arrived in a gigantic tour bus and he had a police escort and he stood on the steps of our Capital building and drew a great crowd. I knew he was coming. All around town, for weeks, there had been posted fliers and posters and placards announcing his arrival. I saw the announcements, made a mental note of the date, and reminded myself to avoid the area that day.
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What if Mercy is a Better Option?
In his book, “No Future Without Forgiveness,” Bishop Desmond Tutu writes about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. As he establishes the foundation of the book and sets out to walk the reader through the work of the Commission, Bishop Tutu is careful to make the distinction between retributive justice, and restorative justice…
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Hearing God’s Voice (Part 2)
God still speaks! God still speaks to humanity, and desires to speak with you. Because our Sovereign King is unseen, we often envision him as an entity that is close enough to see all things, but also too far for personal interaction. But nothing is further from the truth. God was not only invested in our creation and formation, but he continuously invests himself in our daily activities and agendas. In fact I would say that communication with man is something God delights in!
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Meeting Jesus at the Rose Parade
My son met Jesus at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. No, not in the sense that he became a Christian there. Rather, he met Jesus in the flesh, or, I suppose, a reasonable facsimile.
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Advent Reminds Us To Protect The Vulnerable
Advent is a time for us to find the courage to protect the vulnerable as Joseph did with Mary and Mary did with Jesus. Advent offers an invitation to all of us to individually and corporately protect the vulnerable.
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The Grace to Lead, The Grace to Feed
Next Sunday we will reflect upon the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaims that “the government would be upon his shoulders” and that there would be no end to the increase of peace and his government (Isaiah 9:6-7).
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Never an Inconvenience
The bible tells us Christ willingly moved into the neighborhood, leaving heaven for earth to be with us, in human form. Compelled by an inexplicable love for his creation, God somehow took on the form of a baby and came to be with us.
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Not So Quick to Judge
Thumbs up or thumbs down?Recently, I read an article disparaging people who plan to vote for a certain presidential candidate. The article has been shared more than 300,000 times on Facebook. If you tell him you’re voting for this particular candidate, the author says, “Instantly, I know there are certain things about you and your character that I can assume that I wouldn’t like if you told me you supported any other …candidate.” And, according to the author, none of those characteristics are good.
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Reaching Out, Instead of Lashing Out
What’s your reaction when people strike out at you? How do you respond when someone speaks out in public to ridicule or criticize you?
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The Problem with the People You Lead
Did you see that word? Sabotage.
That’s not a word you expected to see in a post on Christian leadership, did you? But, it’s very real. Even for Christians (maybe, especially for Christians)
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Leading into Uncharted Territory
This story of Lewis and Clark illustrates the moment that the Christian Church finds itself in today… and frankly, not unlike the moment that the disciples found themselves in on another mountain in Galilee.
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How’s Your Compassion Quotient?
Compassion is tricky. It behaves like an emotion — rising up within us without our willing it or wishing its arrival. Sometimes, the depth of our compassion toward others astounds even us. When we feel it, we’re often moved to action on behalf of someone else.
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The First Step Toward Forgiveness
No matter who you are, how you live, where you work, or what you believe, it’s going to be a challenge to get out of this life without being offended by someone, somewhere.
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The Hard Work of Loving Our Enemies
There is no way around the direction Jesus calls us to take. Love is the way of the cross and it is the pathway to hope, healing, and redemption.
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