Have you ever stopped to consider how many decisions you make in a day? For me, the day begins with a critical choice: do I hit the tempting “snooze” button on my alarm? Next, I decide how much time to spend on my morning devotions. Do I… Read More

You may be seated in a small and sparsely furnished room, staring at the single painting, waiting to learn whether you got the job. Maybe you are the nail-biter pacing the floor of a hospital waiting room, longing for a word of hope that your loved one will pull through. Read More

I sat with a young Marine in my office, his face turned towards the floor. He had lost weight since I saw him last and had dark circles under his eyes. As he shared his story, I heard deep sorrow in his voice. He had miscalculated a situation and acted… Read More

A week after my close friend unexpectedly passed away, I found myself sitting on the hard wood pews of my church. Los Angeles was suffering through a hot spell in early November. Steamy haze rose from the pavement when I walked across the parking lot, making the air smell of… Read More

Celeste wiped her eyes again and tossed the soaked tissue onto the mound beside her. How could I have been so stupid? I thought he loved me! Now, what? Her hand moved involuntarily to her belly and the small life she now carried.  Today Celeste’s lover broke the news that… Read More

Last week I took the train from Philadelphia to New York to see Last Days in the Desert, a new film written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Garcia focuses on Jesus’ journey out of the desert toward Jerusalem, adding in an… Read More

We all want answers. Many times they are easily given: What time is dinner? When is my trip home? Who will join me? Answers bring clarity and structure to our lives. They help us know what to expect, giving us concrete handles to order our time and thinking. When a… Read More

‘Tis the season to make resolutions! Many of the people you lead are using the turn of the new year as motivation to kick a bad habit or start a good one. For some, the new habit might be Bible reading (and if they don’t come up with that on… Read More