In Barbara Ehrenreich’s book, Dancing in the Streets, the reader is asked: What is it that brings collective joy to people? What a great question! Another form of the question might be, “What causes people to celebrate wildly?” We might even want to ask, “What is it that brings a church joy?” What about you?… Continue reading Grace in the Streets
Category: Grace
699 People!
699 What a great number! That is how many people came to the Crestview Community Center last night from the Waco area to register to be a possible bone marrow donor. We are in the middle of a story at our church. This is a story about a young couple, Susan and Van who love… Continue reading 699 People!
Brennan Manning: The Furious Longing of God
Several days ago, I read Brennan Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God (David C. Cook, 2009). The book is vintage Brennan Manning. Manning is candid, forthright, and passionate about God’s love. As in his other books, Manning reveals keen insight into humanity as well as God’s grace. Ever self-aware, he describes himself as… Continue reading Brennan Manning: The Furious Longing of God
Five Suggestions for Gracious Living
A number of years ago, I was in a gathering of about ten Christians from around the country. All of us were being transported to Pepperdine University. In one of the seats near the front was best-selling author Max Lucado. Near Lucado was an Old Testament professor from a seminary in the mid-South. The two… Continue reading Five Suggestions for Gracious Living
Do I Ever Cherish Do-Overs!
Just a couple of weeks ago, on July 20, I heard a piece on the radio from NPR’s "This I Believe." The segment I heard featured a man by the name of Dan Flanagan from Michigan. The portion of the interview that stood out was the following: I don’t know why I came to… Continue reading Do I Ever Cherish Do-Overs!
When the Devil Looks Like an Angel
John Newton, author of the hymn "Amazing Grace," reflected upon the work of the devil in one of his letters to his friend "Captain Clunie." I read these words this morning from a letter dated October 19, 1766 from Letters of John Newton: . . . and he is never more a devil than… Continue reading When the Devil Looks Like an Angel
An Incredible Grace
Right now, I am reading two very fine books. Both are books that speak of the grace of God but from two different eras. I am reading a new edition of the Letters of John Newton (I am not linking this book to Amazon because apparently they do not carry this book yet.) and L.… Continue reading An Incredible Grace
You Can Forget the All-Star Stuff!
Yesterday I was in Dallas. Downtown Dallas. I was attending a one-day workshop, which was conducted in one of the meeting rooms of a large hotel. Throughout the lobby of this hotel were decorations that focused on this week’s National Hockey League All-Star Game to be held tonight in the American Airlines Center in Dallas.… Continue reading You Can Forget the All-Star Stuff!
The Church of the Second Chance
Anne Tyler is one of my favorite novelists. The first book I read by her was Saint Maybe. It is the best book I’ve read by her. It is the story of a seventeen-year-old boy named Ian, who is living with a truckload of guilt. After all, he had told his brother Danny that his… Continue reading The Church of the Second Chance
Let’s Invite 44 People for Dinner!
Did you hear this amazing story? This happened just the other day. Christine and Randy Glover invited 44 stranded motorists into their home. These motorists were stranded by a blizzard in northeastern New Mexico. Cars came to a halt as they became stuck in 4-foot snowdrifts. These motorists spent Friday and Saturday in their home.… Continue reading Let’s Invite 44 People for Dinner!