category
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
100 Results in 1009ms
Display
Sorted By
-
illustration
A Lack of Accountability
Whenever I have encountered any kind of deep problem with civilization anywhere in the world—be it the logging of rain forests, ethnic or religious intolerance or the brutal destruction of a cultural ... -
Quote
Lack of repentance is the root cause of powerlessness in the church, in this materialistic, self-indulgent age. There can be no spiritual power in a non-repentant church. -
illustration
The Dark Side of the Web
In October 2014 Wired magazine reported on the dirty work every social media company must somehow handle: moderating the deluge of exploitative, degrading content posted in unimaginable quantities aro... -
illustration
Learned Helplessness and Induced Inability
Learned Helplessness can be easily seen in a research study when participants are given a math test. In this study, some participants are told, “men don’t tend to do well on this test,” or “Millennia... -
illustration
Alone Together
In this excerpt from Jay Y. Kim’s book, Analog Church , the author shares about an experience at a local restaurant after being convicted of his own smartphone use at home, keeping him from being p... -
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... -
Quote
Distracted from distraction by distraction -
illustration
The Guise of Connection
As the speed and choices of the digital age send us hurling toward impatience and shallowness, they culminate in its most damaging consequence: isolation. Social media, in particular, lures us in unde... -
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... -
Quote
Without the binding force of memory, experience would be splintered into as many fragments as there are moments in life. Without the mental time travel provided by memory, we would have no awareness o... -
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... -
illustration
This Place is Enough
A simple refusal motivates my argument: refusal to believe that the present time and place, and the people who are here with us, are somehow not enough. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram act li... -
Quote
A life spent entirely in public, in the presence of others, becomes, as we would say, shallow. While it retains its visibility, it loses the quality of rising into sight from some darker ground which ... -
illustration
When Values Turn Vicious
The digital age’s technological advancements boast three major contributions to the improvement of human experience, which in turn have become its undeniable values: We have access to what we want wh... -
Quote
Is buffering a punishment? And if it is, what sin have we committed? -
Quote
The tethered child does not have the experience of being alone with only him- or herself to count on. For example, there used to be a point for an urban child, an important moment, when there was a fi... -
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... -
liturgy
Lord, You are a great and holy God, and
Lord, You are a great and holy God, and you have asked us to pursue you as the object of our worship and devotion. But Lord, we have fallen short of what you ask of us, we are a sinful people. We have... -
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... -
illustration
The Struggles of Parenting in the Digital Age
When I talk with parents of adolescents, the conversation often turns to smartphones, social media, and video games. The stories parents tell me tend to fall into a few common patterns. One is the “co... -
illustration
Little Children Wandering the Aisles of the Internet
Addiction isn’t just measured in time spent connected to screens but also in how it dulls our spiritual sensibilities. We use social media to blunt the edges of overwhelm, to find something to thrill ... -
Quote
The source of our unease . . . becomes visible only when confronting the thicker reality of how these technologies as a whole have managed to expand beyond the minor roles for which we initially adopt... -
Quote
The three immutable facts: You own stuff. You will die. Someone will get that stuff. -
illustration
False Narrative: You Are An Accident
The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy describes a view (not his own view, because Tolstoy was a Christian) of the human person, based on a theory of reality he saw emerging in his day. It is a narrative that... -
Quote
The advertiser is the over rewarded court jester and court pander at the democratic court. -
Quote
But even in the much-publicized rebellion of the young against the materialism of the affluent society, the consumer mentality is too often still intact: the standards of behavior are still those of k... -
Quote
The biggest deception of our digital age may be the lie that says we can be omni-competent, omni-informed, and omni-present. . . . We must choose our absence, our inability, and our ignorance—and choo... -
illustration
The Sacred Alters of Modern Life
Our 24/7 culture conveniently provides every good and service we want, when we want, how we want. Our time – saving devices, technological conveniences, and cheap mobility have seemingly made life muc... -
illustration
Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems
At the airport, Hugh Maclellan Jr. saw an acquaintance who looked troubled. “What’s the matter?” Hugh asked. The man sighed. “I thought I was finally going to have a weekend to myself. But now I have ... -
liturgy
Let us pray. Almighty, powerful,
Let us pray. Almighty, powerful, creator God So often we think we know best. We confess to you our sin alongside the sin of all humanity. We have tried to master creation rather than care for it. We ...
Page 1 of 4
Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- Abandonment
- Abiding in Christ
- Abraham
- Abundance
- Abuse
- Acceptance
- Accidents
- Accountability
- Actions
- Adaptability
- Addiction
- Adversity
- Advertisements
- Advertising
- Advice
- Aging
- Agnosticism
- Agriculture
- Aim
- Alone
- Alpha And Omega
- Ambition
- America
- Angels
- Anger
- Animals
- Anonymity
- Anxiety
- Apathy
- Apologetics
- Appearances
- Appetites
- Archaeology
- Arrogance
- Art
- Artificial Intelligence
- Assumptions
- Atheism
- Attacks
- Attention
- Attention-Spans
- Attentiveness
- Attitude
- Authenticity
- Autonomy
- Availability
- Awe
- The Ancient World
B
- Babies
- Balance
- Baptism
- Beauty
- Beginnings
- Behavior
- Behavior Modification
- Being Humbled
- Being Rich
- Being Right
- Being Stuck
- Belief
- Believing in God
- Benchmarks
- Beyond Understanding
- Bias
- Big Bang
- Birth
- Blessing
- Blindness
- Body Image
- Boredom
- Brain
- Breath
- Breathing
- Broken Families
- Brokenness
- Brotherhood
- Burdens
- Burnout
- Business
- Busyness
- The Beatitudes
- The Bible
- The Biblical Story
- The Body
- The Body of Christ
C
- Caesar
- Called by God
- Calling
- Cancer
- Captivity
- Career
- Caregivers
- Centered in God
- Certainty
- Challenges
- Challenges of Parenting
- Chance
- Change
- Change the World
- Changing Habits
- Changing the World
- Chaos
- Character
- Character Formation
- Cheap
- Child Development
- Childhood
- Children
- Children of God
- Children Suffering
- Choices
- Christ and Culture
- Christ's Healing
- Christ's Resurrection
- Christian Community
- Christian Identity
- Christian Love
- Christian Parenting
- Christian Story
- Christmas
- Chronic Illness
- Church Attendance
- Church Health
- Church Leaders
- Churches
- Circumstances
- Civilization
- Clothing
- Coldness of Heart
- College Students
- College/Universities
- Comfort
- Comfort Zone
- Comforter
- Coming of the Kingdom
- Common Grace
- Common Sense
- Commonality
- Communication
- Community
- Companionship
- Comparison
- Competence
- Complaining
- Complaints
- Complexity
- Complexity of Life
- Computers
- Concentration
- Confidence
- Confusion
- Connectedness
- Connection
- Consciousness
- Consumer Christianity
- Consumerism
- Contentment
- Contrast
- Control
- Controlling God
- Conversation
- Conversion
- Cosmology
- Covetousness
- Covid Pandemic
- Creation
- Creation Care/The Environment
- Creation of Humanity
- Creativity
- Crises
- Critical Thinking
- Criticism
- Cultivation
- Cultural Assumptions
- Culture
- Curiosity
- 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
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Discomfort
- Disconnection
- Discontent
- Discouragement
- 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
- Heartbeat
- 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
- Staying In Your Comfort-Zone
- 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
Top_level_categories by Reference