Sabbath Questions for the Soul
This past weekend I spoke at the National Student Leadership Conference at Taylor University. Vision-casting was evident at every turn. Joy flowed freely through the students, the fellowship, the assembled speakers. On Saturday morning, J. R. Briggs …
The Hard Work of Rest
I learned many years ago that resting well is not static. It’s a moving target, constantly evolving. For me, that’s what makes rest hard work. It requires attention, diligence and commitment to the ever changing seasons and chapters of …
The Benjamin Blessing for 2016
Final words and blessings are meant to propel us into the future anchored to a truth that is meant to transform. Such is the case in Deuteronomy 33, as the Israelites are positioned to cross into the Promised …
Off The Grid – Part 2
The topic of “cell phones” hits a nerve. Just this week, a revealing article, “Stop Googling. Let’s Talk.” by Sherry Turkle caught my eye. It revolves around how mobile internet devices impact solitude, conversation, and young adults …
Off The Grid
Life at one time, had natural, built-in boundaries to the rhythm of our days. A long time ago, people went to bed shortly after sunset – especially when wood or oil reserves ran low. More recently, phones …
Prescription for Rest in the 21st Century
Become a storyteller. Our hurried existence leaves little room for reflection. The biblical command “to remember” anchors our faith to the handiwork of God’s provision, protection, and Presence. Pause. Reflect. Remember. Share. God uses our stories to …
Commission
You have been commissioned to participate in the Great Commission. So have I. It’s the commission (“…go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19) we are all aware of it, but few take it seriously. Our fruit is …
Conviction
240 people enter this world every minute. 120 people die every minute. 80 people die without knowing Jesus Christ.* By the time you finish reading this blog, 230 people will have died. This statistic makes me swallow …
A Few Things I’ve Learned
Dacha is one of my favorite words. It’s Russian and I was introduced to it in the town of Istra, Russia in January 2012 while speaking on the topics of rest and retreat at a conference for …