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, ...

Getting Away from Godhood

I once picked up a 5-year-old at vacation Bible school in the Kool-Aid and cookie queue. I took a bite from his cookie. He looked very comfortable as ...

A Guard Against Pride

It is good that we at times endure opposition, and that we are evilly and untruly judged, when our actions and intentions are good. Often such experiences ...

The Other Spurgeon

One day I was jogging in the forest near my house when a question popped into my mind: What about John Spurgeon?

I admit, not many people are losing sleep ...

Of Specks and Beams

Gladly we desire to make other men perfect but we will not amend our own fault.