An un-mortared stone wall in Chester County. PA CHAPTER 1Why We Don’t Pray (and Why We Must) Most Christians feel guilty about prayer. But guilt has never produced a praying people. If guilt could make us pray, the American church would be a powerhouse of intercession. Instead, we are distracted, hurried, anxious, and exhausted. We … More Looking for Feedback on Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION — When Prayer Becomes Breath I was driving home from helping my daughter move sheep when the thought hit me. It wasn’t profound at first. Just a whisper. A nudge. One of those quiet moments when the Spirit seems to lean in and say, “Pay attention.” Missouri has given us many gifts, but being … More Introduction Galley Proof of My Next Book on Prayer
Read Psalm 67 Three prayers for the day before you A Morning Call to Worship May you rise to the shining face of God.May you rise with an awareness of the grace that kept you through the night.May you walk in a newness of joy knowing the purpose of God to use you … More Three Prayers for Your Friday
Sunday Evening Musings I have seen this pattern before in the Psalms. Next week, I will trace down some of the other examples. For now, I just want to focus on a simple observation. There is a repeated chorus with an interesting pattern. With each repetition of the chorus, the description of God expands. From … More Expand My Sight O God
1 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel,You who lead Joseph like a flock;You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your powerAnd come to save us! Psalm 80:1-2 Sleep has been difficult the past week. The burdens being borne by the pastors I am caring for have taken their toll on me. When … More When Broken People Break
Sometimes you have to try, even if talent is in short supply. Poetry has an ability to be densely packed with information and sometimes, even wisdom. Readers can explore the echoes in this rant about the current state of our culture. Echoes Alexander told us “the West has lost its soul,” and the Left has … More A Rant By Any Other Name
The Will to One Thing He doesn’t start with a request. That’s where a lot of my prayers start. I need something, or I want something, and after a word of address, “Lord,” I run quickly to my request. Perhaps you do too, more often than we should. But David starts with a declaration, “My … More The Will to One Thing
It’s taken four weeks. The last two of those weeks, I have been largely one-handed. That’s what happens when the smiling surgeon cuts a cancer out of the back of your hand and closes up the wound with 21 stitches. Simple things you never thought of as difficult suddenly are. The healing process makes you … More It’s Taken Four Weeks
“My heart is steadfast, O God;I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.” Psalm 108:1 Sometimes, when I read my Bible, I can’t get through the first verse before I collapse into the need for my soul to be honest. All real Bible study starts with honesty. Without an honest soul–a willingness … More Interpreting the Bible Well
I saw a wonderful video this week about a High School football player by the name of Malachi Coleman. As Steve Hartman tells the story, Malachi and his sister were abandoned by their mother but eventually adopted by a couple in Nebraska after a troubled number of years in the child welfare institutions. He arrived … More Gratitude Produces Help for Others
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