In his essay, The World’s Last Night, C.S Lewis makes an observation about prayer and how people try to explain it away or defend it. He reflects on a trip to his barber, where after deciding he would not go, changed his mind and went. Upon his entrance, the barber exclaimed, “I prayed that you … Continue reading Not Science, Not Magic, Just a Request

I’m realizing that too much of my public prayer to God is “unreal.” I was recently asked to pray for someone at a small group gathering. Immediately the cogs of my mind went into “pastor-mode.” I thought about what I would pray for that person: how I could affirm them, what Scripture verses could I … Continue reading Getting Real in Prayer

Here is an idea that I got from one of our Whole Life Worship Blog community: I was talking with one of my customers the other day. In the course of our conversation, she shared some deep anxiety about something she was going through. I told her that I could relate; I had gone through … Continue reading Planting Seeds Through Breath Prayer

Today, November 1st, is All-Saints Day. This is a high holiday observed by liturgical churches all over the world. While differing denominations have different criteria for sainthood (and I’m not going to get into that discussion), the definition I have for saint is simply “one who has been set apart by God.” At the root … Continue reading For All the Saints

Every October 31st my dear friend, Pastor Rob Acker, and I heartily greet each other in a special way. Only we won’t say “trick or treat,” but “Happy Reformation Day!” You see on a Halloween almost 500 years ago, long before any child ever knocked on a door for candy, Martin Luther knocked on a … Continue reading No Tricks, Just Treat

Do you remember the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11)? It is a very profound story in many ways. First, it is a sign of Jesus' divine nature - only God can bring a dead man back to life. Second, it shows the compassion of Jesus - before He raised Lazarus, … Continue reading Doing the Possible as God Does the Impossible

Jesus gave us some great gems of teaching in His Sermon on the Mount. One of these well known nuggets is what we know as the Golden Rule. It goes like this: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. … Continue reading Remembering the Golden Rule

Something very powerful and unusual happened this morning in my Personal Worship Time with the Lord. As I prayed through a Psalm in the Morning Office (“The Divine Hours” by Phyllis Tickle), I started to weep … uncontrollably. Now to those of you who know me well, I am not resistant to weeping. When I … Continue reading Prayer of Tears

One of the values we hold dear in Whole Life Worship is the transformation. We believe that Christ not only came to bring us eternal life, but abundant life, as well. This abundant life occurs as we are changed or transformed by the power of Christ through His Spirit who dwells within us. The theological … Continue reading Sanctification or Sanitization?

I had a nice conversation with my mom and my sister, Janet, today. We talked quite a bit about spiritual discernment. I’ve greatly enjoyed Ruth Haley Barton’s new book, “Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups.” Although it is a book about group discernment, the processes shared are very good for personal … Continue reading Good Ideas are not necessarily God’s Ideas