This afternoon I returned from my Aunt Mitsu's funeral in south New Jersey. I've been gone since Friday. The funeral was held on Saturday, and the Sunday evening service at her church was dedicated to her, as well. I didn't know her well; mainly from the perspective of a distant nephew. So it was a blessing to … More My Aunt Mitsu: Lessons from Her Life & Death
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — The Apostle Paul, 1st century A.D. Who says this kind of thing? I mean, what would possess a human being to write such an off-the-wall statement (and to write it honestly)? And how in the world did it ever become normal, even cliche? Sometimes … More “To Die Is Gain”
True repentance is hard to come by. At least it is in my life. There are lots of "I'm-sorry's," plenty of good intentions, loads of transformational plans, and a good number of "I-should's" and "I-need-to's." Short-lasting resolutions of all shapes and sizes are often the name of the game. Overzealous, unripe decisions (with precious little … More True Repentance: Hard to Come By
I don't have much time, but my mom called tonight and told me that her older sister (the oldest of five), my Aunt Mitsu, is in the final stage of succumbing to cancer. She doesn't want to eat or take her medication, which are sure signs that the battle is over. Her battle has not … More Aunt Mitsu: Not Much Time
I was having lunch with Bryan Kirby yesterday when Cindi called. She asked me a question, we talked for a minute, said “I love you,” and hung up. After I had closed my cell phone, Bryan told me that we were a “cute couple.” (I don’t mind being called that. Coming from a friend like … More Lessons from My “Cindi Voice”
Today is "Day of Prayer" at The Master's College. There were four hour-long sessions of corporate prayer, a worship night at 9:00pm, and wings of students signed up to pray in hour blocks around the clock. Apart from this there will also be unknown private prayers being offered and unprogrammed groups getting together to pray. About an hour ago … More Thoughts on Corporate Prayer
I love John Piper. Not in the way that people “love” ice cream or fast cars or long walks on the beach, but in the way that Christians love each other, in the way that a student loves his most influential teacher, and in the way that a sheep loves its shepherd. Over the past … More Encourage Your Leaders: An Email to John Piper
I'm a bit surprised that no one has yet responded to my previous post, because (1) the issue is very relevant, (2) the subject is highly controversial, and (3) I overstated my point in the last sentence. This was the last sentence: "It is time for us to re-examine the relationship between God and His … More Parental Involvement in Marriage (Part 2): The Divine Model
I spent a couple hours today writing a hand-written letter to a guy I used to play baseball with back in Little League and high school. He’s in prison now. His dad (he was adopted) coached our teams for about seven to eight years, so we saw each other quite a bit. We didn’t know … More Letter to an Old Friend
There are conversations, and then there are conversations. I just had a conversation. No holds barred, judgment-day honesty, heavenly likemindedness. One of those conversations with no trace of self-consciousness, no thought of self-preservation, no center but Christ. It wasn’t scholarly or academic. It wasn’t guarded. It was raw. And it’s funny and sad to me that … More Raw Conversations
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! – Proverbs 15:23 Cindi and I received a thank-you note of encouragement today. It was written a few days ago, but I got it today (the Lord is sovereign over timing, too). Cindi’s in Oklahoma with her family for the … More The Delight of a Timely Word
Be careful who you believe. As the waters recede in New Orleans, people are beginning to realize that the media’s reports of the disaster were often far-fetched, exagerrated, and sensationalistic. Not that the situation wasn’t dire. It was. And it is. But the media is always looking for a story. If they can’t find one, they’re often more … More Be Careful Who You Believe
My friend Dan Watson, a fellow Okie (an “Okie” being someone from Oklahoma), has written a great post on the second half of Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Seeing God is the blessedness of the pure in heart, and it is therefore the motivation for pursuing heart-purity. … More Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
A few years ago, my dentist discovered my first two cavities. They’re very small, and they’re symmetrical — they’re located in the exact same tooth in opposite sides of my mouth. I tend towards perfectionism (in things of my choosing — that’s how perfectionism works), so I had been faithful to brush my teeth throughout my … More Towards Good Habits: A Meditation on Learning to Floss
American culture has become a mixing bowl for two ingredients that are devastating when combined together. And the church—especially my generation—has not escaped the devastation. Most men have turned women into objects of lust who only serve to satisfy sinful desires. And most women have bought the lie, doing their best to become the most … More A Downward Spiral: The Deadly Blend of Body-Image and Lust
I love Hebrews chapter 11. It’s sandwiched between the end of chapter 10 and the beginning of chapter 12, both of which speak of endurance. This means that faith (11) is the meat in the sandwich of endurance (10 and 12). To use another metaphor, the writer is saying that faith is the fuel that … More My Hebrews 11
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