Recently I shared this quote from Matt Perman: Listening is not simply, or mainly, hearing what the other person is saying. It is thinking about what they are saying, and doing so from their point of view. Implication: This includes a willingness to be influenced by others. If you are generally unaffected by what other people say, you aren’t listening. Then I sent it to my theologian (and pastor) friend Adam. Here’s his brief biblical reflection, since he doesn’t blog himself: I like these statements, they remind me of Proverbs 18:2 and 18:13. Here are some more thoughts for the...

“The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love … and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives...

“True spirituality is not a superhuman religiosity; it is simply true humanity released from bondage to sin and renewed by the Holy Spirit. This is given to us as we grasp by faith the full content of Christ’s redemptive work: freedom from the guilt and power of sin, and newness of life through the indwelling and outpouring of his Spirit.” - Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 19-20. [HT: Of First Importance ] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "True humanity + the Spirit", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/05/20/true-humanity-the-spirit/"...

Why are we so prone to lay down and grab the balance beam? Why are we content to hold on tight and do nothing? Watch as pastor Francis Chan illustrates the normal pattern of Christians in our culture, just wanting a safe, easy life. In the end, do we expect God — the Judge — to reward us and say “well done!” [HT: RevReav + the NewLife blog] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A safe, easy life", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/04/08/a-safe-easy-life/" });

Begin the day with God! He is thy Sun and Day! His is the radiance of thy dawn; To Him address thy lay. Sing a new song at morn! Join the glad woods and hills; Join the fresh winds and seas and plains, Join the bright flowers and rills. Sing thy first song to God! Not to thy fellow men; Not to the creatures of His hand, But to the glorious One. Take thy first walk with God! Let Him go forth with thee; By stream, or sea, or mountain path, Seek still His company. Thy first transaction be With God Himself above; So shall thy business prosper well, And all the day be love. –Horatius Bonar SHARETHIS.addEntry({...

Jonathan Dodson seems to always hit the nail on the head with his insights. Here’s an excerpt (okay, almost every word) from his recent post, "Are we community-centered or Gospel-centered? " In asking whether his church could get too mature for community , he notes: "The level of authentic confession of sin, persistent belief in the gospel, love for one another, and sharing of life and mission is remarkable. This is not naive community; it is redemptive community, a community of grace that holds in common brokenness and belief, failure and success, repentance and faith. As...

In sports, rhythm and flow are as important as strategy. There are basketball games where there is little floor spacing, teammates are not communicating well, or worse, not anticipating one another’s moves, and the ball seems to bounce out of rhythm. And there are other times when it seems like one team is dancing around the court to the tune of a hidden song. Athletes call this being "in the zone." This invisible rhythm is made visible through the consistent and dynamic movements of the players. (For example, our beloved Blazers beat the defending champs, the Celtics , tonight.) So...

Paradoxes are great things to explore. They are not contradictions, for their connection and equity simply are beyond our finite understanding. Like when the "peace of God, which surpasses understanding , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" ( Phil. 4:7 ). How can we experience this peace, yet not understand it? Our knowledge is according to experiencing it, that’s how. Recently I wrote a paper, and the professor especially liked one section I wrote: "… two things become apparent to me. One, God does not use lazy people. And two, those who are greatly used...

Some of us do speak of to/about God and people in the exact same way, making our communication with God (or lack thereof) truly profane. That is, we take something sacred and precious and make it common , just like everything else. There is a startling paradox to ponder in James 3:5-12 : "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature,...

Yesterday I shared a bit of our story — and realize their are so many gaps I left out. Since this really isn’t about us , but rather about Christ and His worth, those gaps will have to be like the cracks in a clay pot that reveals the excellency and worth of the object inside ( 2 Cor. 4 ). Please look past us and see the beauty of God. Here are the top five lessons I (think I) have learned over this past 50 month journey and beyond. All are interconnected: People are more important that what they do. Personalizing it: I am not what I do . That is, my identity is rooted in...