At work, we deal with different types of people every day--some drain our energy, while others give it to us. One afternoon...
One of the striking and, frankly, sad aspects of Mark’s Gospel is the description of Jesus’ relationship with his natural family. Mark does not give us any account of Jesus’ birth. The first...
"On the surface," says Baylor University's website, "Northern San Antonio’s Evolve boutique may look like just another trendy clothing store. Its owner...
This passage from the Gospel of Mark has worried Christians for centuries. It speaks of a sin that will not be forgiven, often called the “unpardonable sin.” As a pastor, I have counseled with...
How many times have you walked away from a sermon or a speech and felt beaten up or down because he/she used a club to beat you with instead of grace to heal...
Do you know your neighbors? I have to admit I (mostly) don't--and it's not something I'm proud of. We've lived her for a year, and I have let busyness, my introverted nature, and...
As Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom of God and healed the sick, his popularity grew. He was being followed by those he had specifically called and many others as well. ...
“I want to be led by my authors, to be taught by them, to be transformed as I edit their stuff.” ...
We think the cure to everything is more time management. Let’s improve our focus. Let’s be consistent. Let’s get organized. Let’s prioritize...
You’ve been let go from your job. You cannot find a new job in your field. You dig into your savings to...
I think they call it tinnitus -- that (nearly) constant buzzing in my ear. I’ve had it for years. Experts say that...
One day my 13-year-old daughter was my best friend, and the next day, she wasn’t. I went from being her best friend to being, well, meh. Even though my mom and I went...
For months, in the afternoons when I had a spare moment at the nurses' station or when I was driving home from work, I'd think about her. And I'd pray.
Many congregations are better at recognizing someone’s faithful service to the church, rather than someone’s faithfulness to their vocation outside the church...
Dishonor is a tool the enemy of our souls uses. And once dishonor occurs, it is very difficult to repair. Learning to honor is one of the greatest ways to improve our love...
"What do you love best about community theater?" I asked the twelve-year-old girl. We were backstage at the Cailloux Theater, waiting in the wings for our entrance into The King and I. ...
Yesterday I offered some reflections on Mark 2:22, a verse that speaks of wine and wineskins. Today I want to add some additional thoughts before I move on in the Gospel of Mark...
Wherever God calls us – whether in the marketplace, or in the church, or in the mission field – our calling is honorable and blessed. Not only do we need pastors and missionaries, we also need...
Any parent who has had a sick child can relate to the sense of insecurity and dread that surrounds the illness. From...
Saying "I'm just an office manager" or "I'm just a teacher" or "I'm just ... anything" downplays your potential, plays up perceived limitations and sets up self-fulfilling prophecy. The Center for...
