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Flying into a Headwind
I started flying small Cessna planes when I was in high school, and I vividly remember one flight between McGregor, TX and Austin. We had an incredibly strong tail wind down to Austin, so we got there... -
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Caring For Them is What We’re on this Earth For
In this beautiful illustration from Tom Long’s well-known preaching guide, The Witness of Preaching , a pastor shares a true story of what valuing human life can look like when God’s Kingdom takes ro... -
Quote
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated indi... -
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Attitude Is Everything
Harry Emerson Fosdick once told how as a child, his mother sent him to pick a quart of raspberries. Reluctantly he dragged himself to the berry patch. His afternoon was ruined for sure. Then a thought... -
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Not Heeding the Call
Just the other day, I was out on a bike ride for some exercise. Because I work for a high-end cycling company, I had the opportunity to test ride one the bikes we make – a bike that comes with a price... -
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The White Man’s Burden
In the context of justice, I think what Christians need to confess about their pride isn’t so much about taking credit away from God but from the people we help. One version of this is sometimes refer... -
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More Alive With This Friend
In his book, The Enormous Exception, Earl Palmer tells about a pre-med undergrad at the University of California, Berkley, who became a Christian after a long journey through doubts and questions. A b... -
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An Unexpected Friendship
Sometimes moments of forgiveness and friendship come from unexpected places. In 2018, the comedian Pete Davidson appeared on the “Weekend Update” segment of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Davidson made a ... -
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A Bit-Part in a Story of Redemption
Kevin Blue has spent much of his ministry career serving the poor in inner-city Los Angeles. This reflection show how the investment in the poor can pay big dividends: Loving the poor has cost me so... -
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Hard to Care about Anything
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pervasive sense of societal malaise seems to be affecting a significant portion of the population. Journalist and managing editor of Time , Lily Rothman, ... -
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Donne, Undone
While movies and novels often present stories of a budding love interest willing to give up everything for “true love” (Romeo and Juliet, for example), the renowned poet, and later clergyman, John Don... -
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“It is Not the Healthy Who Need a Doctor”
Ann Voskamp, in her book The Broken Way, describes what it was like to have mental illness trivialized from the pulpit, as someone who identified with similar struggles: I was eighteen, with scars a... -
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A Nice Theory
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” “Well,” you say “that is a nice theory—but is it really true?” There is really only one way to find out: Give! Give generously and consistently, ... -
liturgy
Labor Day Prayer
O God, Father of us all, we praise you for so binding humanity together that we must each lean upon the strength and labor of others. We ask your blessing on all men and women who have worked to build... -
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A Guard Against Paternalism
Practicing confession is one way to guard against paternalism in both extreme and more subtle ways. For example, we can tell stories of justice in a way that discounts other people’s agency—that is, t... -
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When we don’t meet Christ in Scripture and are not regularly being discipled by or discipling others, it is impossible to discern what being a Christian means or to cultivate a relationship with God. ... -
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Confess Your Mixed Motives
In U2’s song “One,” Bono sings, “Have you come here to play Jesus / To the lepers in your head?”2 Yes, if you are involved in justice work, you probably have. So have I. This isn’t bad. Just honest. W... -
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Friends in Peace and in War
Though Jim was just a little older than Phillip and often assumed the role of leader, they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together. After college they decided to jo... -
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The Threat of the Christians
The fourth-century emperor Julian (AD 331-336) feared [Christians] might take over the empire. Referring to Christians as “Galileans” and Christianity as “atheism” (because of their denial of the exis... -
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Your decisions . . . along with your responses to other people’s decisions, which are also your decisions...are about the only thing you can control in life, which means your decisions are how you con... -
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Whose the Fairest of Them All?
In Disney’s Snow White, when the wicked witch stares in the mirror, she asks a basic question: “Who’s the fairest of them all?” It is a natural, human tendency to measure ourselves against others. But... -
liturgy
Father–Father of the Lord Jesus and our
Father–Father of the Lord Jesus and our Father: You’ve blessed us beyond imagination. You redeem us, forgive us and lavish Your gifts on us: Thank You. You choose us, when we wouldn’t choose ourselves... -
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Getting to the Image
Think of an ancient icon of Christ. Imagine that a thousand-year-old Christ Pantocrator painted on a wooden panel is discovered in some forgotten monastery. The image of Christ is there, but it’s cove... -
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Incarnation Essential to Reconciliation
In their thoughtful book on reconciliation, Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice share how Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement showed up in the lives of the working poor, which ultimately enable... -
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Justice is less like finite land and more like the wildflowers that grow there, continually spreading as they bloom and re-seed themselves. Justice—like beauty—is rooted in infinity. -
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A Brother’s Sacrifice
An eight-year-old boy had a younger sister who was dying of leukemia, and he was told that without a blood transfusion she would die. His parents explained to him that his blood was probably compatibl... -
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Somebody Does Care
Many years ago, I was on my way home from work and a friend came to mind. It occurred to me that I hadn’t heard from him for a few days, and I knew he had been having a tough time. (This was before th... -
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Finding Your Blue Flame
I had just started dating my husband, Joe, when I met international speaker and bestselling author Keith Ferrazzi. He was a friend of Joe’s …but on this day he was an intimidating public figure. I wan... -
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Born to Give
Investor T. Boone Pickens talked about how good it feels to give. He said, “I was put here to make money so I could give it away.” I heard a nearly giddy Warren Buffet, then the second or third riches... -
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The Cross as an Enduring Image
In 2000, the National Gallery in London put on a millennial exhibition entitled “Seeing Salvation.” That was a case in point—especially remembering that European countries tend to be far more “secular...
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Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- A Meaningful Life
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B
- Balance
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- Being a Good Neighbor
- Being Enslaved To Sin
- Being Humbled
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- Being vs. Doing
- Beliefs
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- The Beatitudes
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C
- Called by God
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D
- Daily Life
- Danger
- Dangers of Religion
- Dangers of Technology
- Darkness
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- Death and Dying
- Death of a Loved One
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- Divine Intervention
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- Division
- Divisions
- Domestic Abuse
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- Dreams
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- The Digital World
E
- Economics
- Education
- Elderly People
- Elders
- Election Day
- Elections (Political)
- Embrace
- Emotions
- Empowerment
- Encouragement
- Enemies
- Energy
- Environment
- Equality
- Eschatology (End Times)
- Eternal Life
- Eternity
- Eternity of God
- Ethics
- Evangelism
- Everyday Life
- Evil
- Evolution
- Example
- Excellence
- Exclusion
- Exploitation
- Expressing Emotions
- Eyes
- The Early Church
- The Earth
F
- Face of God
- Facing your Fears
- Failure
- Fairness
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith in Action
- Faithfulness
- Fame
- Family
- Family Dysfunction
- Famine
- Farming
- Fatherhood of God
- Fatigue
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- Fear
- Fear of Death
- Fears
- Feelings
- Financial Struggles
- Fire
- Floods
- Following Jesus
- Food
- Foolishness
- Football (American)
- Forgetfulness
- Forgiveness
- Freedom
- Friend of God
- Friend of Sinners
- Friendship
- Friendship with Jesus
- Fruit
- Fullness of Life
- Future
- The Fear of God
G
- Gardening
- Gathering
- Generations
- Generosity
- Getting What You Want
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving Freely
- Giving God the Glory
- Giving to the Poor
- Global Church
- Glory
- God
- God with Us
- God's Character
- God's Creation
- God's Faithfulness
- God's Gifts
- God's Goodness
- God's Judgment
- God's Justice
- God's Law
- God's Love
- God's Name
- God's Nearness
- God's Omnipresence
- God's Omniscience
- God's Plans
- God's Power (Omnipotence)
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Reign
- God's Sovereignty
- God's Sufficiency
- God's Throne
- God's Unfailing Love
- God's Voice
- God's Will
- God's Word
- God's Works
- Going to Church
- Good Intentions
- Good News
- Good Samaritan
- Good Works
- Goodness
- Goodness of God
- Gospel
- Government
- Grace
- Grandparents
- Gratitude
- Greatness of God
- Greed
- Grief
- Growth
- Guidance
- Guilt
- Guilty
- The Glory of God
- The Good Shepherd
- The Great Commission
H
- Habits
- Half-Truths
- Hands
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Hard-Heartedness
- Harvest
- Hatred
- Having A Wake-Up Call
- Healing
- Healing Blindness
- Healing the Past
- Health
- Healthcare
- Hearing God
- Hearing our Prayers
- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Hearts
- Heaven
- Hell
- Help
- Helping Others
- Helping our Neighbors
- Helping the Poor
- Heroes
- Hiding from God
- Hiding Our Sin
- History
- HIV/AIDS
- Hoarding
- Holiness
- Holiness of God
- Holy of Holies
- Home
- Homelessness
- Honesty
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- Hopelessness
- Hospitality
- Hospitals
- Human Condition
- Human Development
- Human Judgment
- Human Life
- Human Nature
- Human Qualities
- Humanity
- Humble Leadership
- Humble Living
- Humble Service
- Humility
- Humor
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hypocrisy
- The Holy Land
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Idols
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image Bearers
- Immanuel
- Immigrants
- Immigration
- Immortality
- Impact
- Impatience
- In, But Not Of, the World
- Inaction
- Inclusion
- Independence Day
- Indifference
- Inequality
- Information
- Information Overload
- Inheritance
- Injury
- Injustice
- Innocence
- Innovation
- Inspiration
- Institutions
- Instruments of God's Love
- Insults
- Integrity
- Intercession
- Invitation
- Isolation
- Israel
- Israel-Palestine Conflict
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
K
L
- Labor Day
- Lament
- Language
- Law (Torah)
- Laws
- Leadership
- Learning
- Legacy
- Lent
- Liberation
- Lies
- Life
- Life and Death
- Life of Faith
- Life of Purpose
- Life Satisfaction
- Life Story
- Light
- Light and Darkness
- Light of the World
- Limitations
- Listening
- Living Life
- Living Sacrifice
- Living Water
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Longings
- Losing Control
- Loss
- Love
- Love of God and Neighbor
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- Loving your Neighbor
- The Lamb of God
- The Lord's Supper
M
- Magnificat
- Making a Difference
- Man of Sorrows
- Manipulation
- Manna
- Marginalized
- Marital Problems
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Mary the Mother of Jesus
- Masks
- Materialism
- Maundy Thursday
- Meaning
- Media
- Meditation
- Meekness
- Memorial Day
- Mental Health
- Mental Illness
- Mercy
- Military Service
- Mind
- Mind and Body
- Ministry
- Minorities
- Miracles
- Mission
- Mission of the Church
- Missionaries
- Missions
- Mistaken Identity
- Mistakes
- Modern Life
- Modern Religion
- Modern Religious Life
- Modern-Day Slavery
- Modernity
- Money
- Moral Choices
- Moral Silence
- Morality
- Moses
- Motivations
- Mourning
- Multi-Ethnic Church
- Multiculturalism
- Music
- Mystery
- Mystery of Life
- The Meaning of Life
- The Messiah
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Missional Church
N
O
P
- Pace
- Pain
- Pain and Joy
- Parenting
- Parents
- Partisanship
- Passion
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Patriotism
- Peace
- Peacemaking
- Pentecost
- People
- Peoples
- Perfection
- Persecuted Church
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Persistence
- Personal
- Personal Agendas
- Perspective
- Place
- Plagiarism
- Political Freedom
- Political Leaders
- Politicians
- Politics
- Pollution
- Poor
- Poor in Spirit
- Possessions
- Possibility
- Postmodernism
- Poverty
- Power
- Power of Love
- Powerlessness
- Praise
- Prayer
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Prejudice
- Preparation
- Presence
- President
- Presidential Elections
- Price
- Pride
- Priorities
- Prison
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Privilege
- Problems
- Productivity
- Progress
- Promises
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proud
- Provision
- Public Faith
- Purity
- Purity Of Heart
- Purpose
- The Passing of Time
- The People of God
- The Prince of Peace
- The Prophets
R
- Race
- Race and Reconciliation
- Racial Reconciliation
- Racism
- Raising Children
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving God
- Receiving Love
- Receiving the Gospel
- Receiving the Word
- Reconciliation
- Recovery
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reform
- Reformation Sunday
- Refuge
- Refugees
- Regret
- Relationships
- Relevance
- Religion
- Religion and Politics
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Conflict
- Religious Liberty
- Religious Pluralism
- Reminders
- Renewal
- Renewing our Minds
- Repentance
- Reputation
- Rescue
- Resentment
- Resilience
- Resistance
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Restoration
- Restoring Sight
- Resurrection
- Resurrection Life
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Resurrection to New Life
- Revelation
- Revival
- Rewards
- Rich and Poor
- Riches
- Right Relationships
- Righteousness
- Risks
- Romantic Relationships
- Rootedness
- Routines
- Rule of Life
- Running to God
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
- The Rock
- The Roman Empire
S
- Sabbath
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Sacrificial Living
- Sacrificial Love
- Safety
- Salt and Light
- Salt of the Earth
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Savior
- Scapegoats
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Screens
- Scripture
- Secularism
- Seeds
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Seeking the Truth
- Segregation
- Self-Achievement
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Control
- Self-Deception
- Self-Discipline
- Self-Image
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Interest
- Self-Love
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Renunciation
- Self-Righteousness
- Self-Sacrifice
- Selfishness
- Selflessness
- Servant Leadership
- Servanthood
- Service
- Settling
- Sexism
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sharing
- Sheep
- Shelter
- Shepherd
- Shepherds
- Sickness
- Sight
- Silence
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Singing
- Single Parents
- Sins of Omission
- Skepticism
- Slavery
- Smart Phones
- Social Justice
- Social Media
- Soil
- Soldiers
- Solutions
- Solving Poverty
- Sorrow
- Speaking Out
- Speaking Truth to Power
- Speech
- Speed
- Spending Time
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Hunger
- Spiritual Problems
- Spiritual Thirst
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Staying Positive
- Steadfast Love
- Stealing
- Step-parents
- Stereotypes
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Storms
- Storytelling
- Stranger
- Strength
- Strength of Character
- Stress
- Struggles
- Submission
- Success
- Suffering
- Suicide
- Sun
- Superiority
- Surgery
- Surprise
- Surrender
- Sustainability
- Sustainer
- The Sacraments
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
T
- Taking Up the Cross
- Talking
- Teachers
- Team
- Teamwork
- Tears
- Technological Progress
- Technology
- Temptation
- Tension
- Terrorism
- Thankfulness
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- The Temple
- The Trinity
- The Twelve Disciples
- Therapy
- Third Third of Life
- Thirst
- Thoughts
- Time
- TIme Management
- Tired
- Tolerance
- Tongue
- Town
- Tragedy
- Transformation
- Transgressions
- Transitions
- Trauma
- Travel
- Trees
- Trouble
- True Self
- Trust
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
U
W
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Deuteronomy
Ruth
1 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Esther
Job
Psalm
- Ps 1 (11)
- Ps 2 (2)
- Ps 4 (2)
- Ps 6 (2)
- Ps 8 (7)
- Ps 9 (3)
- Ps 10 (3)
- Ps 11 (1)
- Ps 12 (2)
- Ps 14 (1)
- Ps 15 (3)
- Ps 16 (4)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (8)
- Ps 20 (2)
- Ps 22 (2)
- Ps 23 (16)
- Ps 24 (5)
- Ps 25 (3)
- Ps 27 (5)
- Ps 29 (2)
- Ps 30 (6)
- Ps 31 (1)
- Ps 32 (3)
- Ps 33 (7)
- Ps 34 (40)
- Ps 37 (9)
- Ps 39 (2)
- Ps 41 (1)
- Ps 42 (7)
- Ps 46 (26)
- Ps 49 (1)
- Ps 50 (2)
- Ps 51 (23)
- Ps 52 (2)
- Ps 55 (1)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 62 (1)
- Ps 63 (3)
- Ps 66 (2)
- Ps 68 (1)
- Ps 71 (2)
- Ps 72 (6)
- Ps 73 (3)
- Ps 77 (2)
- Ps 78 (4)
- Ps 80 (1)
- Ps 82 (16)
- Ps 85 (4)
- Ps 86 (1)
- Ps 89 (3)
- Ps 90 (13)
- Ps 91 (2)
- Ps 92 (2)
- Ps 96 (4)
- Ps 98 (2)
- Ps 99 (1)
- Ps 100 (4)
- Ps 101 (1)
- Ps 103 (13)
- Ps 104 (3)
- Ps 106 (1)
- Ps 111 (1)
- Ps 112 (1)
- Ps 113 (2)
- Ps 115 (1)
- Ps 116 (2)
- Ps 117 (1)
- Ps 118 (4)
- Ps 119 (22)
- Ps 121 (3)
- Ps 122 (1)
- Ps 124 (1)
- Ps 127 (5)
- Ps 128 (2)
- Ps 130 (4)
- Ps 131 (2)
- Ps 133 (4)
- Ps 136 (2)
- Ps 139 (14)
- Ps 141 (3)
- Ps 143 (1)
- Ps 145 (4)
- Ps 146 (5)
- Ps 147 (5)
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
- Isa 1 (38)
- Isa 2 (3)
- Isa 5 (5)
- Isa 6 (15)
- Isa 7 (1)
- Isa 9 (10)
- Isa 11 (1)
- Isa 25 (2)
- Isa 26 (3)
- Isa 28 (4)
- Isa 30 (4)
- Isa 32 (2)
- Isa 33 (2)
- Isa 40 (26)
- Isa 41 (17)
- Isa 42 (2)
- Isa 43 (12)
- Isa 44 (3)
- Isa 45 (2)
- Isa 47 (1)
- Isa 49 (1)
- Isa 50 (1)
- Isa 51 (1)
- Isa 52 (1)
- Isa 53 (20)
- Isa 55 (19)
- Isa 56 (2)
- Isa 57 (1)
- Isa 58 (23)
- Isa 59 (3)
- Isa 60 (3)
- Isa 61 (23)
- Isa 65 (1)
- Isa 66 (1)