Christians and Candybars

“Because I longed for eternal life, I went to bed with harlots and drank for nights on end.” – Albert Camus The very act of sin is a cry to experience life to the fullest. Every person is born with an insatiable thirst for transcendence, the...

Christians and Death

I’ve had more friends and family die this year than any other year of my life. An uncle fell dead jogging. A cousin took his own life. Several friends died from cancer. Another from kidney failure. Some of them were relatively young. A few days after hearing...

Discipline and Grace

Last week was a mile-marker in my life. I finally had to give in and get contact lenses. I’ve known it was coming for some time now. It began when I started holding books further and further from my face as I read. Eventually, I realized I either had to grow...

When Hurricanes Come

Remalia is a cab driver on the island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. I met her one day after sailing there with a group of friends. As she drove us around the island, giving us “the grand tour,” I began to talk to her about her personal life on...

Don’t Ask, Appropriate!

When I was a pastor of a local church, I would sometimes go into the worship service and say to my congregation, “Let’s all pray and ask the Lord to give us His blessings today.” Together we would ask, “Lord, pour out Your blessings. Give us...

Moving From Mercy to Grace

An article in Progress magazine reported that Billy Graham received a speeding ticket driving through a small town many years ago. He readily admitted his guilt, but was told by the police officer that he would have to appear in court. Mr. Graham was asked by the...