Taste and See!

We’re currently living in a time when the ubiquitous influence of Christianity that under-girded Western culture for a millennia has become a thing of history. But I would be quick to add, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because what looks fallen down and ruined at first blush is often just the catalyst for a glorious restoration.

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“Are we under the Law as Christians?” Yes, of course!

Whenever someone asks me if we, as followers of Christ, are still under the Law, I know what they’re asking. Most people who ask these kinds of questions are looking to push back when the message of God’s scandalous grace is taught. I heard Bill Vanderbush‘s answer to this and I think it’s the best way to respond. I simply answer: “Yes, of course! We’re still under the law.” 

When self-love becomes other-centered

We all understand that self-love—where everything and everyone must orbit around one’s narcissistic milieu—is a bad character trait. But in knowing this we also risk confusing this self-centered love with the self-love that’s critically important to following Christ. This form of self-love is actually God-centered and self-giving.

How does God’s kind of self-love work? Well, first, we must understand something about loving God and how He loves.

What hinders real change

“We would rather be ruined than changed. We would rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the present and let our illusions die.”—W. H. AUDEN

“There is no practical or compelling reason to leave one’s present comfort zone in life. Why would you? Frankly, none of us do unless or until we have to. The invitation probably has to be unexpected or unsought.”

A hidden key to living the overcoming life

One way we learn how to live the overcoming life is through trials and problems. It’s also probably one of the most misinterpreted and least liked ways of growing as a believer, but it’s one of the most effective ways. Of course this key to a life well-lived is not hidden at all. It’s just that we Westerners, with our first-world problems, seem to have trouble grasping it.

Smartphones, addictions, joy, and pleasure

Here’s a clip from Academy of Ideas that’s making the case that smartphones are creating a population of addicts. That got me to thinking about the nature of addiction. But before I get to that, another point the clips makes that’s worth mentioning is that our smart technology is dumbing us down and hindering us from reaching our full potential as human beings.

Cultivating a Communion Lifestyle

“For some reason, religious people tend to confuse the means with the actual goal. In the beginning, you tend to think that God really cares about your exact posture, the exact day of the week for public prayer, the authorship and wordings of your prayers, and other such things.

Once your life has become a constant communion, you know that all the techniques, formulas, sacraments, and practices were just a dress rehearsal for the real thing—life itself—which can actually become a constant intentional prayer. Your conscious and loving existence gives glory to God.” (Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Kindle Loc.460)