Charis

I took Zachary to see Amazing Grace yesterday afternoon–wow! I was deeply moved, challenged, and encouraged. I had heard of Wilberforce through my studies of British literature, but I didn’t know much about him. It was exciting to see a man of faith and conviction portrayed as a hero—and he should be, because he did […]

Last night over coffee, a group of us were talking about God’s plans for our lives and learning to wait while the plans unfold. The conversation turned to Joseph and Moses, who both knew God had called them to something great and yet waited a long time to see it come about.

What did these men […]

from Lent and Easter Wisdom: In the passage for today, the Pope works from Mark 10:33, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” He says, “This journey to Jerusalem…is the model for the Christian who is committed to following the Master on the way of the Cross.”

This prompted me to read Mark’s account of Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion. I hesitated to write “to his crucifixion,” though Mark 10 is the third time that Jesus clearly predicts His death to the disciples. Yes, Jesus knew He was headed for death, and He knew that His death was necessary. My hesitation comes from the fact that Jesus didn’t go to die, He went, in the words of John Paul, “to complete his redemptive mission.”…

We went to the Upward basketball celebration tonight; Isaac, our first-grader, played a team sport for the first time and loved it. He told me yesterday, after his last game (in which he made his first basket!), that he would play Upward basketball every year until he graduates from high school and goes to college to become a zoo keeper. Zack played Upward basketball and soccer several years ago, and Anna is looking forward to serving as a cheerleader when she is old enough.…

Benny Tabalujan makes a compelling argument for honoring the sabbath in “Re-discovering Sabbath” in the most recent issue of Regent Business Review. Tabalujan explains that sabbath is not so much about resting as reflecting:

God used the sabbath to look over, reflect upon, enjoy and celebrate the work he performed. It follows that if work is about results, then sabbath is about reflection; if work is preoccupied with mission, then sabbath delves into meaning.…

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.—Pope John XXIII

Yesterday, Creflo Dollar made reference to Isaiah 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace” (NIV). I read through the entire chapter today—several times—and I’m deeply moved. There are so many wonderful promises in this chapter:…

In Pursuing Your Life Dream, Eastman Curtis tells of a conversation he had with a trainer of fighter pilots in Vietnam. This trainer said that most of the pilots who were shot down could have escaped from their planes…

Every week, I eat breakfast with Jeff, Chris, and William—we are, to use John Eldredge’s term, a “band of brothers.” Our conversations range over a wide variety of topics, from movies to marriage and politics to prophecy. However, we always make it a point to talk about our goals, and we have worked our way through some books to help us be more purposeful and focused.

Jeff’s been reading Chris Howard’s Turning Passions into Profits, and he told us about Howard’s idea of having goals you move toward (positive goals) and those you move away from (anti-goals)…