Bringing Light to Life
Several years ago I found an isolated place where I could sit quietly and listen for God’s voice. A place where I could bask in the wonder of his creation and pray. Cooks Butte Park, a wilderness park on the summit of a hill where we used to live, hosted towering fir trees and a […]
I have a reoccurring dream in which I’m running as hard as I can. Sometimes I’m running barefoot across an open field of green grass in the country. Or, on an asphalt street through a crowded neighborhood. Often I’m playing football and trying to outrun defenders. What makes this dream troubling isn’t where I’m running […]
In each instance when Jesus prayed alone, he faced a different kind of need that would require the wisdom and strength of his Father. I’m convinced that explains why Jesus not only prayed alone, but uttered short prayers throughout the day. He lived with an ongoing awareness of his need for the Father’s wisdom and […]
I recall visiting a friend in his home for the first time. He greeted me warmly, and we walked into his den. The first thing I noticed was the forty-two-inch HDTV on the wall. Its screen flashed a colorful and precise image while the surround-sound speaker system delivered crisp highs and a chest-thumping bass line.
Because I hadn’t come over to watch a sporting event or movie, I assumed he would turn off the TV, or at least mute the sound while we talked. Instead, his head swiveled back and forth as he gazed at the TV and glanced at me. After a few minutes, I concluded he didn’t want to talk, and so I gave up trying and waited until the next commercial to slip away.
On a dark rainy day several years ago my mood matched the weather. I climbed in my car and listened to the rain patter on the roof. I felt physically and emotionally drained.