There are moments in our Christian walk when we hear the rooster crow, and realize we have blown it in our attempts to follow Jesus’ Way in our interactions with others. Let me share a story of a day when I heard the rooster crow. I looked in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw. … More Grace in a Hot Tub
“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” LUKE 15 Just a reminder that I am breathing new life into many old devotionals with my Daily Illumination Audio podcast. It’s a lot of fun to “perform” these old stories in audio format. This past week, for example, I shared this piece on Chasing Lambs. … More Chasing Lambs
In many parts of the West, Christians find themselves being pushed to the periphery of power and influence after centuries of privilege. Fear, anger, nostalgia, and retaliation are not how Christ’s people are to respond when their circumstances change or their cultural authority is taken away. … More Kings Rise and Fall (Skye Jethani)
Don’t follow the disciples’ example in this passage and seek Truth in gossip, rumor and conspiracies. Turn to the source of Truth. Turn to Christ. … More Who Is This Man?
Like Jonah’s experience in the belly, the past year can be summed up as “Dark, Cramped, & Stinky.” This Good Friday let us join Jonah in the belly of the fish, to imaginatively enter into his experience and ponder his prayer from the depths. And anticipate Resurrection! … More Dark, Cramped, & Stinky (Good Friday Vigil)
I’m excited to release today a new audio dramatization of my “Tale of the Cursed Fig Tree.” What if the fig tree that Jesus cursed could tell his side of the story? This is an imaginative retelling of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!” during his last week, and how his fate … More The Tale of the Cursed Fig Tree (Audio Drama)
Introducing short 5-minute audio reflections on your phone to brighten your day and illuminate your path. We are committed to helping you grow in Jesus-shaped wisdom through more innovative, on-the-go discipleship resources. … More NEW: Audio Devotions On-the-Go
Her life was forever changed the night the Living Waters came looking for her in a lonely laundromat on the wrong side of the tracks in the pouring rain at midnight. … More The Woman at the Laundromat
The story of the wise men on camels bringing their gifts is intertwined with the story of an insecure, paranoid, narcissistic tyrant orchestrating terror and chaos from his palatial office. Listen to the familiar story again, this time with your eyes glued on the pathetic sociopath spinning lies and plotting peril in the Christmas story. … More Tyranny & the Wise Way Out
If you’re like me, this New Year’s Eve you can’t decide if you feel like singing for joy as we put 2020 in the rearview, or whether you feel like crying alone in a corner, sucking your thumb, and loading up on comfort food to numb the pain and trauma of 2020. The wisdom of the Scriptures would suggest we probably need to sing most when we mostly feel like crying. … More A New Year, A New Song
Beneath the surface, sometimes even hidden from our own awareness, may lurk a more manipulative intent behind our gratitude. The believer sometimes thinks — If I offer these prayers, if I give these sacrifices, and if I show my gratitude for past blessings, then God will bless me again. … More Pure Thanksgiving (Skye Jethani)
Unlike Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak that allowed him to move through crowds unseen, we are to put on the cloak of Christlike character and witness so everyone can get a glimpse of the Jesus who lives in us. … More Children of the Day
The tell tale sign that someone has brushed up against God’s awesome presence is often this: They now walk with a spiritual limp. … More Wrestling with God
Soon the soothing sounds of the gentle breeze and singing birds were drowned out by loud music coming from a vehicle parked ahead by the stream. DNR officials were taking water samples from the stream. The people called to protect the beauty and peacefulness of the natural habitat were checking the water for pollutants while polluting the air with noise. … More Seeking Still Waters Under a Waterfall (1 Peter 2:1-3)
Marvel of marvels, the Living God wants—no insists—on taking up residence in our homes! “I must stay at your house,” he tells Zacchaeus. … More Salvation Lives Here (A Home Blessing)
I’m so glad the shepherd’s near Bethlehem didn’t have smartphones or Netflix that first Christmas. Can you imagine the scene? … More Keeping Watch in the New Year
To all God’s beloved living in the United States today, Paul would write urging us, like the church in ancient Rome, to be a set-apart people, setting up little beachheads of Christ’s eternal kingdom right here and now in the swamp of partisan politics and idolatrous nationalistic sentiment. … More A ‘Set Apart’ People in a Partisan Culture
Those who carry a “father wound” often subconsciously project their pain, anger, or fear onto their Heavenly Father. They may picture God as distant, or disinterested, or capricious or temperamental. Jesus came to show us the true heart of the Father. … More Everlasting Father Wounds
We shove all these disappointments and confusions into a spiritual junk drawer – we don’t know where else to put them. We tell ourselves, “I’ll deal with it later.” … More Junk Drawer Spirituality (Huddle Qs)
On Facebook and Instagram, we’re voluntarily inscribing the details of our lives in a book for the whole world to read. We’re leaving digital footprints in the social media sand that will someday, when we’re gone, reveal a lot about who we were and the kind of life we led. … More Job’s Digital Footprint
As a 6′-7″ tall dude, I’ve had a hard time relating to Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” who couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd. In a crowd of people, I am the “tree” that many are trying to see around! … More A New Vantage Point
“The obviously well kept secret of the “ordinary” is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the life of God flows.” -Dallas Willard … More A Breathtaking Reality
We just returned from a week in Orland, Florida. My parents treated their grandkids and us to a week at a fancy resort and Disney World adventures. In the midst of meeting Mickey, visiting Hogwarts Castle, riding roller coasters and carrying tired kids and their souvenirs for miles in the hot sun, we also had … More A Lesson from the Lizard
LECTIONARY REFLECTION | Psalm 119:97-104 In 1983 a shaggy haired rock ’n roller John Cougar Mellencamp released a new ditty called “The Authority Song.” The song captures the rebellious spirit of a teenager railing against authority figures who, in his mind, love putting people in their place and sucking all the fun out of life. … More Boulevard of Broken Dreams
LECTIONARY REFLECTION | 18th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c This week we’ll board a plane and take the kids to Disney World – the Magic Kingdom where all your dreams can come true with a little waving of the wand (and a lot of cash in your pocket)! If only “wishing upon a … More Magic Wand Spirituality
Kingdom Harbor 