Lord, Orchestrate My Desires (Revised)

You received a blog from me just a few minutes ago. As soon as I posted it I saw so many errors in the text that I was mortified. (I wrote this after prayer this morning and did not do a serious edit after I finished it.) So, please read this same post with my numerous corrections. While I am … Read More

A Sleepless Night and a Gentle and Powerful Morning Reminder

In Matthew 19 Jesus welcomes little children to himself, (gently) touches them and prays over them. The disciples, in contrast, seem too stern and busy to feel the is important kingdom work. The story tells us: 13 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly … Read More

The Pope’s Appeal for Inter-Religious Unity and Love

In the light of the debates now raging among Christians regarding how to respond to people of other faiths Pope Francis gives us here a short video in which he expresses his heart and personal hope. Many evangelicals will see this video and conclude something like the following: “Pope Francis believes all people are brothers and sisters and thus he … Read More

The Passing of My Friend Joseph F. Girzone

Several years ago I shared the story of how I met Fr. Joseph F. Girzone (1930-2015). I had read Joe’s wonderful book, Jesus: A New Understanding of God’s Son (New York: Doubleday, 2009). I simply loved it. Frankly, it changed my life in many profound ways. I wrote my first ever review on Amazon and as a result someone showed it … Read More

Reflections on Forgiveness and Forgiving (Tom Masters)

Reading the text and commentary for the Focolare Movement’s “Word of Life” for May, 2015, brought to my mind an experience from two years ago when I was in Rome to meet with the editorial staff of the publishing house Città Nuova.  On March 13, the very day that the meeting began, it happened that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who took … Read More

Aaron Niequist: The Practice – Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Aaron Niequist began an experimental community at Willow Creek early last year (2014). The Practice: Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace. Aaron aims to be a discipleship-focused, formation oriented, practice-based tribe asks two simple questions: (1) What is the Life that Christ invites us into? and (2) “What are the practices,” he asks, “that we can do together, and on our own, to embrace this Eternal Life now?” Said simply: What is God doing and how can we join Him? As Aaron and I have gotten to know each other as good friends the last two years I have watched these developments with increased joy and interest. Today I would … Read More

A Liberal Confession that Conservatives Can Affirm

Today’s Guest Blogger: Dr. David Lescalleet There was an interesting recent editorial on dailybeast.com entitled:  Why I’m coming out as a Christian.  Columnist Ana Marie Cox who has written for a number of periodicals and has quite the following on twitter (1.3 million and counting) wrote the article.  I heard about it today when Ms. Cox appeared on the cable … Read More

Faith Energized By Love

As I have been reading and writing on love for more than thirteen months now I am awestruck by so much that is transforming my own  life. Here is but one example. A Pauline text that has deeply moved me can be read in Galatians 5:1-6: For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to … Read More

Pope Francis: The Great Reformer?

Over recent days I have been reading Austen Ivereigh’s new biography, The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2014). This is a magnificent book. It is clearly the best biography we have of this man, at least so far. The work is very engaging and looks carefully at the circumstances … Read More