Prayer That Is Personal

When we pray for ourselves, our petitions usually center around what we think we need or what we are sure so-and-so needs. God sees needs in our lives ...

The Sands of Time

If I cast my eyes before me, what an infinite space in which I do not exist! And if I look behind me, what a terrible procession of years in which I do ...

False Humility

"My sermon today is on humility, and in my opinion, it's one of the finest pieces ever written."

Humility Can Lead to Pride

The more we make humility our aim, the more we're tempted to become proud of our motives.

He Must Increase

When Mother Teresa was passing through a crowd in Detroit a woman remarked, "Her secret is that she is free to be nothing. Therefore God can use ...

A Psalm for Palm Sunday

King Jesus, why did you choose a lowly donkey to carry you to ride in your parade?

Had you no friend who owned a horse--a royal mount with spirit for a ...

Jesus, Our Stunt Double

Actor Kevin Bacon recounted when his 6-year-old son saw Footloose for the first time:

He said, "Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you ...

God in the Straw

Theodosius Harnack, Luther scholar of note, said that for Luther the imperative was to have "God deep in the flesh." Christmas celebrates just ...

The Pattern of Bethlehem

At Christmas we say much of the meaning of His coming to earth, the mission, the message, but we sometimes overlook the manner of his Advent. God set ...

Growing Downward

We grow up into Christ by growing down into lowliness. ... Off-loading our fantasies of omnicompetence, we start trying to be trustful, obedient, dependent, ...