Jesus’ half-brother James has a book in the New Testament named for him. Twelve teachings make up the book. The big idea for James is to call God’s people to wholehearted devotion. For him, the heart and the tongue are connected. You can control a horse’s whole body with a bit in its mouth and a great ship with a small rudder, James argues, but the tongue cannot be tamed. Not only that, it can set things “ablaze.” Some will hear James’ words as an invitation to maintain their two-faced-ness…

God loves to make God’s children wealthy! Of course I’m not talking about praying for the winning Powerball ticket or even some kind of prosperity gospel. I’m talking about how God’s life-giving word leads us to life riches. Many are the tales of those who have all the trappings of an abundant life without a reputation for integrity, joy or peace. God’s approach begins the other way around. Start off with meticulously attending to God’s word and life riches will follow you no matter your cash position. “A good name…

We don’t talk much about human intimacy in the church, but we need to. Intimacy, sexuality and sex are good gifts from God! Wholeness and wellness include physically loving and being loved. Touch, arousal, playfulness and lovemaking are a part of God’s grand design for our species. In the Jewish tradition, we are even told that lovemaking with your spouse on the Sabbath is twice blessed! It’s a sad fact that many of us weren’t taught all this as young people and many of us adults aren’t guided by this…

When asked, “How are you doing?” most of us reflexively say “fine.” Problem is, rarely does that describe how we’re actually doing or feeling. That’s why I love the Psalms so much, they are emotionally honest. These spiritual poets lead us into an authentic relationship with ourselves and with God by telling the truth to God. They use words like “cry” and “troubles,” “crushed spirit,” and “brokenhearted” in their poems. These ancient spiritual advisors know that transformation and joy don’t find us through denial and that your prayer life ought…

St. Paul wants us to, “make the most of the time….” He has some suggestions about how to do that. First, what not to do: don’t be foolish, don’t look for your answers or your healing at the bottom of a bottle or in any excesses for that matter. The lift you need, the lift that is your inheritance from God, isn’t in those places. “Sing,” he says. In fact, “fill yourself” with songs. Make melodies to the Lord in your hearts. Sing. All of us can sing, and it…

Peter takes a moment to look back. His looking back takes him to the time he looked up and was changed. He was changed when he saw Jesus’ radiance and heard a voice that comforted and challenged him. Peter was an “eyewitness to God’s majesty.” Like Peter, we are also eyewitnesses of God’s majesty. Majesty is just a fancy way to say major-ness as in God is greater, finer, foremost and supreme. We would do well to be attentive to this major-ness, like those who “see a light in the…

“You are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” A beautiful fact is on display in this simple sentence. Just as the disciples were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry, so Jesus has been with us from our beginning. God in God’s genius and perseverance has been with us from our beginnings. Even from the beginnings that gave birth to our beginnings, we are being accompanied by God. To be dressed up in flesh is to be clothed in grace and mercy. From this…

Faith is keeping your head up even when you’re standing in a valley. Faith is looking beyond the hills that try to intimidate you. Faith is the lens we look through to understand God’s text messages to us. Faith is knowing God is real, able, good and generous. Faith is how we walk out of the valleys we find ourselves in from time to time. Faith is what we can lend to others trapped in valleys. Faith is knowing there is a gracious Somebody beyond the cold hills we face….

Most folks have a God story. Most are reluctant to tell theirs for fear of seeming weak-minded or childish. Yet, we have them. The Resurrection of Jesus is a God story. It will never be more than that. It will always shake hands with doubt. Still, that God did the impossible dances around us like butterflies around a flower. All my God stories have the same fragrance as the Resurrection: God refuses to be dismissed. God forgives our rejection. God reconciles us to ourself and others. God gives us a…