Posts tagged “Grace”
Fully present
There’s nothing quite like having someone’s full attention. They’re present. They’re listening. They have their phone put away, and their eyes are focused on…
Called to love others
“Nobody’s in the mood to heal divisions; everybody’s in the mood to exacerbate them.” That’s what the political analyst said on the radio the…
There’s a discrepancy
Have you ever had buyer’s remorse over fast food? It can happen. I’ve seen it. Three friends and I were each ordering separately at…
The cure for conflict
Have you ever seen a Newton’s Cradle? A Newton’s Cradle is the famous office accessory with the five metal spheres that hang in a…
How does your garden grow?
When we lived in Minnesota, we had a huge garden—I’m talking 40 feet of asparagus, 20 pepper plants in pots, rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, a…
Guilt by association
Have you ever felt like you should distance yourself from certain people to make it clear that you do not associate yourself with their…
Entry requirement
Someone once asked me why God would make the entry requirement for heaven so high. If he loved the world, why not drop the…
Your sins are not like coffee grounds
It was 5:20 A.M. I was pulling out the coffeepot to pour my first cup when things went tragically awry. (I use the word…
The names of God: Redeemer
During the American Civil War, President Lincoln and the U.S. Congress had a desperate need for military manpower, so they instituted a military draft…
Jesus’ forgiving grace
I once heard of a pastor who had the best/most unsuccessful counseling idea. When couples brought their conflicts into his office, he would say…
Do you tremble at the words of God?
Every Holy Week, amid the sad and somber stories of the crucifixion of Christ, our congregation sings the old spiritual “Were You There?” Do…
Get out of Satan’s mouth
The apostle Peter warned, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). A good…