Hope Is Real In Sacramento
On the corner of 7th Ave and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Oak Park, Sacramento, you’ll find an empty lot. On one wall, a spectacular mural of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On a fence nearby, the word “hope” … Continued
Indifference – The Most Destructive Sin You’ve Never Heard Of
I remember waking up for the first time, spiritually. I was twenty-three. My attention, my energy shifted. I saw a world outside my world. I cared about the needs of others. “I was on fire for the Lord,” to use … Continued
You Can Change The World With Your Words
Words create worlds. Yes, your words. Much like God, who created everything with words, you also have the power to create with yours. Your world, in fact, is a by-product of the words you tell yourself and the ones others … Continued
How To Navigate A Season of Waiting
Waiting rooms suck. One particular time, I found myself in a waiting room after my youngest son, Micah, slashed his ear on a bookshelf. I walked into the ER at our local hospital around 10 a.m. Micah was in pain … Continued
Show Me Your Image of God, I’ll Show You Your Future
What is your picture of God? If someone asked you to draw God right now, what sort of image would you draw? No Sunday school answers, please. Jesus is the untainted imago dei. Even the demon believe this. Who is … Continued
What It Takes To Live A Meaningful Life
In one sense, every day is created equal. In another sense, this is wholly untrue. Every day contributes to the trajectory of your life. But certain days change it. It’s not that your life is defined by these moments. Take … Continued
I Spent A Month Away From Social Media. Here’s What I Learned.
So, I did it. I went a month without social media. I’m aware that my accomplishment sounds ludicrous to a large majority, and for different reasons. On one hand, the folks who couldn’t fathom such a thing. One whole month … Continued
Ordinary Time Is Sacred Time
I often wonder why the gospels are silent about Jesus’ adolescent, teenage and early adult years? For eighteen years, from the age of 12 to 30, we read nothing about Jesus. Some scholars call these the “hidden years,” and I’m … Continued
The Enneagram According To Your Favorite Bible Characters
The Enneagram is the most liberating tool I’ve ever encountered. It’s also the most painful. A double-edged sword, for sure. The Enneagram has a subtle way of by-passing the pleasantries and ego-stroking and telling you exactly why you suck. I’ve … Continued
Grace Is Opposed To Earning, Not Effort
Grace is central to the Christian faith. Yet we hold it at arm’s length. Rather than bring it close and wrestle with its implications, we would rather keep it close enough. Why, I don’t know. Maybe we know grace would … Continued