Undoubtedly, the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can pray. In it, Jesus brilliantly covers the gamut of those essential aspects of relationship, worship, alignment, confession, and intercession through this short, but profound, prayer. I’ve always looked at the Lord’s Prayer more as a “prayer principle” than something that has value … Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer “Double-Take”

As we seek to worship God with our everyday ordinary lives, one of the biggest hurdles to meaningful connection is when we encounter those situations that overwhelm us: trials, conflicts, roadblocks, setbacks and the like. Usually, there are strong emotions that accompany these events, like fear, anger, anxiety, sorrow or discouragement. If you’re like me … Continue reading The Secret Power of Welcoming the “Un-welcomable”

No, I didn’t get a ticket and, no, I didn’t go to Traffic School – although I have in the past and I would not want to wish either of those experiences on anyone! God is teaching me some deep stuff through how I handle myself behind the wheel in traffic. And a lot of … Continue reading Traffic School

Last night I woke up at 3am in a panic. Something just gripped my mind and heart as I was filled with anxiety. A small, still Voice told me, “Just breathe … and pray.” So I took deep breaths. I tried praying the Jesus prayer, but it was too long. All that could come out … Continue reading Breath Prayer

An hour before our 9:30am Easter Service, I received some bad news from my Pastor of Tech Ministries: our plans to do a live video feed of our Cardboard Testimonies hit a huge roadblock; the video processing unit was not working. This was devastating news because it would mean that most of the people in … Continue reading Pressing Jesus

Whew! After six worship services, four rehearsals, hours of set up and tear down, creating videos, powerpoints, coordinating volunteers, and many prayers (some frantic and desperate, others more reflective and contemplative) I can say with Jesus, “It is finished!” Of course, his work was the greatest and most difficult deed in all of history. Mine … Continue reading Post Lent Reflections

Today is Good Friday. One of the most beautiful and haunting hymns that speak of the crucifixion of our Lord is the spiritual, “Were You There?” It is simple and to the point, like all of the spiritual songs of the African-American slaves. Each verse has a simple phrase describing the atoning death of Jesus … Continue reading Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

Thursday (John 13:1-17) Theme: An Example to Follow The time was immanent. Jesus knew that within hours he would be hanging on a cross. He knew that this was his last opportunity to give his disciples something that would remain with them forever. What does he do? He washes their feet. Of all the lessons … Continue reading An Example to Follow

One of the greatest and most beautiful passages in Isaiah’s vision is chapter 53. Written 800 years before Christ was born, Isaiah describes both the intense physical and emotional anguish of the Suffering Servant, who willingly offered his life as atonement for our sin. You can almost feel the pain of Messiah’s rejection in the … Continue reading The Travail of His Soul

As we begin Holy Week, I am reminded of Jesus’ “cleansing of the Temple.” In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), this is Jesus’ first act after entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The thing that strikes me the most about this incident is that Jesus is angry. Most of us don’t normally associate Jesus … Continue reading What Makes Jesus Angry?