Fixing the Scales
Most of the evil in this world can be traced back to a feeling of entitlement that lurks deep within each of us — a frantic concern for our own good that we find difficult to shake. The same instinct that compelled Eve to reach for the fruit that would give her the knowledge of good and evil still compels people to focus on what they are owed, on what they have “earned,” on what they have “coming to them.”
Rise, and Go to Your Father
There’s a certain respect that is shown by someone who takes the time to come to the door, ring the bell and wait to be greeted. Being willing to go through the niceties for the sake of appearances is a small act of deference on the part of the person doing the picking-up.
Where’s the Sacrifice?
The “it” never really matters much. Taking out the trash, painting the bedroom, traveling to your in-laws’ for Christmas. The heart of the matter is the sacrifice and desire. That’s what it all hangs on. Am I with a person who will sacrifice for me?
Humility and Stewardship
Our destination is what matters as we approach the proverbial table. Are we headed for the place of honor, expecting it to be waiting for us? Or are we making our way to the lowest place, simply thankful to be invited to the meal?
Chancing the Narrow Gate
From doctors to counselors, anthropologists to schoolteachers, it seems like everyone has their own parenting style to peddle, guaranteeing it will result in a happy and well-adjusted kid. But of all the parenting approaches I’ve come across, I’ve never encountered a philosophy that rejects discipline altogether.
A Steward’s Growing Pains
Have you ever written a check or seen the charge on the credit card machine that had far too many zeros on it for your comfort? It’s a little easier to bear when you’re forking over dollar signs for a fun vacation or even a worthy cause like your child’s education.
Caught in the Rising Action
Think of some of your favorite iconic movies. I’m not talking about the feel-good comedies or the offbeat coming-of-age flicks. I’m talking about the movies that you found had a profound impact on you or made you go “Hmmm.” I’m willing to bet that the plot of this film features some tough moments and difficult scenarios.
What We Store in the Barn
I once knew a godly woman who had truly tasted the bitterness of this earthly life. This woman knew pain. She knew sacrifice. She worked each day at a low-paying job, waiting patiently for her 65th birthday, when she could retire and devote herself full-time to her grandchildren. I think we all know someone like this, don’t we?
When I Called, You Answered
There is something strangely sacred about the act of asking for something. It requires humility. It requires grace. It requires us to be awake, to be aware, to be vulnerable. Too often we fall into a pattern of entitlement, even when it comes to information.
Be Ready for God to “Stop By”
Before text messaging and social media made us all unconditionally, mercilessly reachable, people would do this thing called “stopping by.” They would be passing by a friend’s house, maybe on the way home from work or shopping, and they would just … stop. It wasn’t an everyday occurrence, but it was common enough that you had to be ready.
What Jesus Doesn’t Say
“If Jesus wanted us to (fill in the blank), he would have said so.” We hear this argument applied to every controversial topic under the sun — and even some not-so-controversial topics, too. Whenever someone is trying to make a case for a decision they have already made, they call in Jesus’ scriptural silence on the matter as their expert, unimpeachable witness.
When God Speaks Like a Polish Grandmother
A friend of mine had a Polish grandmother who was famous for giving her children some blunt advice every time they left the house: “Eyes straight ahead. Mind your own business.” In this way, a woman who rarely said “I love you” expressed her devotion. Jesus does much the same for us, in many portions of the Gospels.