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Our Overstory and Understory
In the world of ecology, the tallest trees in a forest form a canopy that is called the overstory. It provides shade for the understory—all the vegetation that grows beneath the uppermost layer of fol... -
liturgy
We have been created by God, to be
We have been created by God, to be loved by God, and to receive our identity from God. But in our everyday lives, as we go about our work, school, interacting with our family and friends, we don’t alw... -
illustration
A Missionary's Influence
R.W. DeHann wrote of a missionary who, shortly after arriving on the field, was speaking for the first time to a group of villagers. He was trying to present the gospel to them. He began by describing... -
illustration
Adolescence and the Pings, Not Pong
Adolescents have been offered a license to post without any accompanying ethical framework. Is it fair to blame teens for misusing tools that didn’t exist in our childhood? If I had been given a phone... -
liturgy
God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–You
God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–You know what it’s like to be many and one at the same time. In You, we too are many ... yet one. You’ve made us one body—a single family unified for one purpose; with ... -
illustration
The Saturated Self
Looking into his life and out to the wider world, Kenneth Gergen writes about The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life, arguing that “social saturation brings with it a general lo... -
illustration
Creating Christian Consumers
I’ve served on staff at a few different churches throughout Silicon Valley for the last decade and a half, including a medium-sized church, a young church plant, and a multisite megachurch. At each, w... -
series
Psalm 19 | Creation Reflects God
Introduction During my time in seminary (and the year after I graduated) I spent a lot of time at a church in southern New Jersey. It’s actually how I met Scott Bullock, TPW board member and creator... -
liturgy
God of the common and of the uncommon.
God of the common and of the uncommon. You meet us in the ordinary routines of life–when we play and when we rest, while we work and while we worship. And You reveal yourself in the extraordinary, too... -
liturgy
Adapted from the Brief Statement of Faith
In sovereign love, you, O God, created the world good And made everyone equally in your image, Male and female, of every race and people, To live as one community. But we rebel against you; we hid... -
illustration
The Poor in Spirit at an Oregon State Correctional Institution
In June 2024, I (A. J.) had the opportunity to visit the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, Oregon, to meet with a group of inmates who had read one of my recent books. The experience was... -
Quote
To call the community in Corinth “the body of Christ” that proclaims Jesus as Lord, then, counters a culture that proclaims that Caesar is lord, where Caesar is seen as ruler and head of the body. Onc... -
liturgy
God of wonder and grace: You knew us
God of wonder and grace: You knew us from even before we were born; You loved us from eternity. Then, when we needed to know you most, You called us by name and saved us. Nothing escapes Your notice a... -
Quote
I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily. -
liturgy
True Love
Merciful Jesus Give us courage to deny privilege to lay down favor and safety in order to take up the cross of opportunity and justice Too often we fail to do this Merciful Jesus Give us courage to d... -
liturgy
Gracious Lord, like Nicodemus, we come
Gracious Lord, like Nicodemus, we come to the word with many questions. Like the Pharisees, we can be captivated by correctness, intent on right answers. As we turn to your word, Spirit of God, do not... -
liturgy
We are complicit and we do not even
We are complicit and we do not even realize it, O Holy God. Every day we participate in systems of idolatry, and we promote the captivity of a nation to gods. We have bought the subtle lies of our cul... -
illustration
Are Churches Like Zoos?
A decade ago I spent an unforgettable week in the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago of islands off the coast of Ecuador hasn’t changed much since Charles Darwin sailed there on the HMS Beagle in Dec... -
liturgy
God ~ Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Your
God ~ Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Your grace welcomes us. Your faithfulness gives us hope. Your love invites us to come as we are—not as we think we ought to be, nor, even, as we want to be. While s... -
Quote
If “evolution” is…elevated to the status of a world-view of the way things are, then there is direct conflict with biblical faith. But if “evolution” remains at the level of scientific biological hypo... -
Quote
For Calvin, the creation reflects its Creator at every point. Image after images flashed in front of our eyes, as Calvin attempts to convey the multiplicity of ways in which the creation witnesses to ... -
Quote
American culture is probably the least Christian culture that we’ve ever had because it is so materialistic and it’s so full of lies…. The problem is people have been treated as consumers for so long ... -
liturgy
God of Wonder and Majesty–You are the
God of Wonder and Majesty–You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End... our past, present and future. You’ve come in the past ...You’re here with us now ...and You’ll come again in power and g... -
liturgy
Lord Jesus—the same yesterday, today
Lord Jesus—the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and the author of change, who’s constantly doing “a new thing,” which makes us sit up and take notice. We admit, we’d be more comfortable with a pred... -
liturgy
Living and present Lord (Extended)
Prayer of Adoration Living and present Lord: You often surprise us, coming when we least expect it; or, You simply fold back the curtain to show us You’ve been there all along to give us hope and to ... -
liturgy
God–our Father, Lord and indwelling
God–our Father, Lord and indwelling Spirit of grace and power: Thank you for hearing us when we pray whether in songs of rejoicing or through tears of sorrow. Thank you for gifts–for the gifts of musi... -
illustration
Broken Symmetries and the Masses of Gauge Bosons
In 1964 Peter Higgs wrote a paper entitled, “Broken Symmetries and the Masses of Gauge Bosons,” which proposed the existence of a new fundamental particle of matter based solely upon mathematical dedu... -
Quote
Augustine said that we were all born into the world of “common grace” [i.e., available to all]. Before one is baptized, or even if one never is, such grace meets one in God’s creation. There is grace ... -
illustration
You Need Nutrition to Grow: Physically and Spiritually
A lack of nutrition in early life can result in stunted growth. Stunting results in lifelong health complications. According to the WHO: Stunting in early life -- particularly in the first 1000 days... -
illustration
George McDonald’s Great Fear
George MacDonald, The Scottish author who had a profound effect on C.S. Lewis among others, once wrote a letter to his father about what he believed would be a great obstacle to his faith; that once h...
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Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- Abandonment
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- The Ancient World
B
- Babies
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- Behavior Modification
- Being Humbled
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- Benchmarks
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- Broken Families
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- Burdens
- Burnout
- Business
- Busyness
- The Beatitudes
- The Bible
- The Biblical Story
- The Body
- The Body of Christ
C
- Caesar
- Called by God
- Calling
- Cancer
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- Career
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- Centered in God
- Certainty
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- Chance
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- Cheap
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- Creation
- Creation Care/The Environment
- Creation of Humanity
- Creativity
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- Cultivation
- Cultural Assumptions
- Culture
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- The City
- The Cross
D
- Dancing
- Danger
- Dangers of Religion
- Dangers of Technology
- Darkness
- Darwinism
- Deacons
- Death
- Death of a Loved One
- Decision-Making
- Decisive Moments
- Depression
- Desert
- Desire
- Desires
- Despair
- Destination
- Destiny
- Devil
- Devotion
- Digital Age
- Dinosaurs
- Direction
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- Discomfort
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- Discontent
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- Discovery
- Disease
- Dishonesty
- Disobedience
- Disruption
- Distortion
- Distraction
- Diversity
- Divine Intervention
- Divine Love
- Divine Revelation
- Divinity of Jesus
- Divorce
- Do Not Fear
- Domestic Abuse
- Drawing Near to God
- Dreams
- Drought
- Drugs
- Dust
- Dying
- The Digital World
- The Dying
E
- Earthiness
- Economics
- Efficiency
- Ego
- Elders
- Elections (Political)
- Embrace
- Emotions
- Empowerment
- Endurance
- Enemy
- Energy
- Entertainment
- Environment
- Envy
- Epiphanies
- Equality
- Eschatology (End Times)
- Eternity
- Eternity of God
- Ethics
- Evangelism
- Events
- Everyday Life
- Evidence
- Evil
- Evolution
- Exercise
- Exhaustion
- Existence
- Existence of God
- Expectations of Children
- Experience
- Experiences
- Exploitation
- Eyes
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
F
- Face of God
- Facts
- Failure
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith Seeking Understanding
- Faithfulness
- Fall of Humanity
- Fallacies
- Falling Short
- Fame
- Family
- Family Discipleship
- Family Dysfunction
- Family Systems
- Farming
- Fasting
- Fatigue
- Fear
- Fears
- Fire
- Five Senses
- Flattery
- Flesh
- Flights
- Flourishing
- Focus
- Food
- Force
- Forest
- Formation
- Free Will
- Freedom
- Friendship
- Frugality
- Fulfillment
- Fullness of Life
- Future
- The False Self
G
- Gamification
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
- Gaslighting
- Gathering
- General Revelation
- Generations
- Generosity
- Genetics
- Genius
- Gifts
- Global Church
- Glory
- Goals
- God Seeking Us
- God the Creator
- God's Absence
- God's Abundance
- God's Character
- God's Creation
- God's Design
- God's Existence
- God's Goodness
- God's Handiwork
- God's Knowledge (Omniscience)
- God's Law
- God's Name
- God's Omnipresence
- God's Omniscience
- God's Plans
- God’s Presence
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Pursuit
- God's Story
- God's Throne
- God's Voice
- God's Word
- God's Works
- Going Online
- Good Friday
- Good Life
- Good News
- Goodness
- Goodness of Creation
- Goodness of God
- Gospel
- Government
- Grace
- Graduation
- Grafting
- Grandparents
- Gratitude
- Great Books
- Great Exchange
- Greatness
- Greatness of God
- Greed
- Grief
- Grieving
- Growth
- Guidance
- The Glory of God
- The Good Shepherd
- The Great Commission
H
- Habits
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Harmony
- Hatred
- Healing
- Healing Wounds
- Health
- Healthcare
- Healthy Parenting
- Hearing
- Hearing God
- Hearing our Prayers
- Heart
- Heart Change
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- Hearts
- Helplessness
- Hiding from God
- Higher Power
- Holiness
- Home
- Hope
- Human Nature
- Human Qualities
- Humanity
- Humble Living
- Humility
- Humor
- Hurry
- Hurt
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideals
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Illness
- Image
- Image Bearers
- Images
- Impact
- Impatience
- Inauthenticity
- Incomprehensability
- Individualism
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- Infants
- Information
- Information Overload
- Inheritance
- Injury
- Injustice
- Innovation
- Insecurity
- Inspiration
- Instant Gratification
- Insults
- Integrity
- Intelligence
- Interactions
- Intercession
- Interruption
- Inventions
- Invitation
- Irresistible
- Isolation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
L
- Lack of Accountability
- Lack of Presence
- Lament
- Land
- Landscape
- Language
- Laughter
- Law (Torah)
- Learning
- Learning from our Suffering
- Legacy
- Leisure
- Lent
- Leprosy
- Lies
- Life
- Life Story
- Life to the Full
- Light
- Light of the World
- Limitations
- Liturgy
- Living
- Living Life
- Living Sacrifice
- Living the Resurrection
- Living Water
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Loss
- Love
- Loving your Neighbor
- The Law
M
- Magic
- Majesty
- Manipulation
- Marital Problems
- Marketing
- Marriage
- Masks
- Materialism
- Materialism (Philosophical)
- Meals
- Meaning
- Media
- Medicine
- Meditation
- Memories
- Memorization
- Memory
- Mental Health
- Mental Illness
- Message of the Bible
- Military Service
- Millenials
- Mind
- Mind and Body
- Miracles
- Mirroring
- Misdirection
- Missionaries
- Missions
- Mistakes
- Misunderstanding
- Modern Life
- Modern Religion
- Modernity
- Money
- Moon
- Moral Choices
- Mother's Day
- Mourning
- Music
- Mystery
- Mystery of God
- Mystery of Life
- The Material World
- The Meaning of Life
- The Military
N
O
P
- Pace
- Pain
- Pain and Growth
- Pain and Joy
- Paradox
- Parenting
- Parenting Teenagers
- Parents
- Passion
- Past
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Persecuted Church
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Personal Agendas
- Personality
- Perspective
- Philosphy of Life
- Phones
- Photographs
- Photography
- Physics
- Pilgrims
- Place
- Placebos
- Play
- Poison
- Political Freedom
- Political Leaders
- Politics
- Pollution
- Poor in Spirit
- Pop Culture
- Popularity
- Possessions
- Postmodernism
- Poverty
- Power
- Praise
- Predictions
- Prejudice
- Preparation
- Presence
- President
- Price
- Pride
- Prisoners
- Privilege
- Problems
- Productivity
- Progress
- Propaganda
- Providence
- Provision
- Pruning
- Psychology
- Putting God in a Box
- The Passing of Time
- The Psalms
R
- Race
- Racial Reconciliation
- Racism
- Rage
- Raising Children
- Reality
- Reason
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving the Gospel
- Reconciliation
- Recovery
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Refiner's Fire
- Refining Fire
- Reflection
- Reframing
- Refugees
- Rejecting God
- Rejection
- Relationship with God
- Relationships
- Relevance
- Religion
- Remembering
- Renewal
- Repentance
- Repetition
- Resilience
- Resistance
- Resisting Change
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Restlessness
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Resurrection to New Life
- Retreat
- Revelation
- Revival
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Rich and Poor
- Riches
- Rituals
- Routines
- The Resurrection and the Life
- The Rich
- The Rock
- The Roman Empire
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Living
- Sacrificial Love
- Sadness
- Safety
- Salt
- Salt and Light
- Salt of the Earth
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Savior
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Scientists
- Screens
- Scripture
- Scripture Memorization
- Sea
- Security
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Seeking the Kingdom
- Seeking the Truth
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Consciousness
- Self-Control
- Self-Discovery
- Self-Image
- Self-Interest
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Sacrifice
- Self-Talk
- Selfishness
- Selflessness
- Sense of Smell
- Separation
- Sermon on the Mount
- Shallowness
- Sheep
- Shelter
- Sickness
- Signs
- Silence
- Simplicity
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Single Parents
- Sins of the Church
- Skepticism
- Skin
- Slavery
- Sleep
- Smart Phones
- Snow
- Social Awkwardness
- Social Media
- Society
- Soil
- Soldiers
- Solitude
- Sorrow
- Sovereignty
- Space (Outer)
- Spectacle
- Spiritual Battles
- Spiritual Blindness
- Spiritual Discernment
- Spiritual Dryness
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Hunger
- Spiritual Problems
- Spring (Season)
- Stars
- Staying Humble
- Stealing
- Step-parents
- Stewardship
- Stewardship of the Environment
- Stories
- Storms
- Storytelling
- Strength
- Stress
- Struggles
- Stuff
- Subjectivism
- Suffering
- Suicide
- Summer
- Sunday School
- Supernatural
- Surgery
- Surprise
- Sustainability
- Sustainer
- Sweetness
- Symbols
- The Sacraments
- The Second Coming Of Christ
- The Soul
T
- Taking A Leap Of Faith
- Taking Inventory
- Taking Up the Cross
- Technological Progress
- Technology
- Teenagers
- Television
- Telling the Truth
- Ten Commandments
- Testing
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- The Trinity
- Theology
- Therapy
- Things
- Thought
- Thought Life
- Thought World
- Thoughts
- Threats
- Threats to the Church
- Time
- Timekeeping
- Tired
- Tongue
- Tradition
- Tragedy
- Transcendence
- Transformation
- Translation
- Trauma
- Travel
- Trees
- Trials
- Trouble
- True Love
- Trust
- Trust in God
- Trust in Jesus
- Truth
U
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