Truth & Love Blog
Three Books for My Birthday
Three Books for My BirthdayWhat more could I want for my next birthday than three books--especially if they are my own books! On August 1, my birthday, Beyond the Suffering will be released by Baker Books. That same day, BMH Books will release the revised third...
Tennis and Life
Tennis and LifeIn the women’s fourth round of the 2007 French Open, Maria Sharapova saved two match points but drew jeers while beating Patty Schnyder 3-6, 6-4, 9-7.Spectators turned on Sharapova at 7-7 in the final set, when she won a disputed point while serving at...
A Spiritual Friendship Pact
A Spiritual Friendship PactSt. Teresa looked upon human friendship as a joint journey, a spiritual pilgrimage to the fatherland. To four trusted friends she extended this invitation:“I should like the five of us who at present love each other in Christ to make a kind...
Ministerial Abuse
Ministerial AbuseIn our current church climate, we often read of ministers abusing parishioners in one form or another. Less often, we read and ponder the abuse of ministers by their own parishioners and by outside critics.History is replete with such accounts. The...
Put Up the Cross for Your Sail
Sail OnHave the winds of life ruthlessly railed against you, blowing you like straw in a tornado?Sail on.Amma Syncletica left a life of luxury in the third century to face a life of storms in the desert. Known as one of the "Desert Mothers" of the ancient Church, she...
The Day(s) After Easter
The Day(s) After EasterAfter Easter, then what?For Thomas, the disciple most like some of us, doubt.Yes, even after Easter, Thomas doubted.Even after being told by at least a dozen (ten disciples, two Marys), Thomas still doubted.Even after the Old Testament...
Easter: Holiday or Holy Day?
Easter: Holiday or Holy Day?Growing up, Easter was about coloring eggs, chocolate bunny rabbits, marshmallow eggs, and toys from my Aunt. For much of Western culture, that’s still the “essence of Easter.”Easter MeaningAs holidays go, for Americans and most American...
Nameless Saturday
Nameless SaturdayWe have names for days leading up to Easter from Wednesday to Friday.Evangelicals don’t have a name for Saturday.The in-between day.The day of waiting.The day of faith-testing.Never Ending SaturdayImagine it, for the first time all over again.Your...
What’s So Good about Good Friday?
What’s So Good about Good Friday?Good Friday. The day Christians memorialize death. God’s death. Christ’s crucifixion.What’s so good about that?In Evangelical Protestant circles, Good Friday is rarely seen as “good.” In fact, it’s often ignored. No services. Nothing.I...
In a Coffin in Egypt
In a Coffin in EgyptConsider the contrast between the first five and the last five words of Genesis. “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1a). “In a coffin in Egypt” (Genesis 50:26b). Life east of Eden and this side of Heaven is guaranteed to be replete with...
