Category Archives: Spiritual life

You are worth more than you think

Posted on August 23, 2014 by salooper57

How much are you worth? That depends on who is paying the bill. A chemist could get about 50 dollars out of your body (though the cost of extracting the chemicals would be prohibitive). Airlines value a person at about … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can we forgive when we are still angry?

Posted on August 16, 2014 by salooper57

One of the great examples of forgiveness in our time comes from Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch Christian woman who, during the Second World War, was arrested by the Nazis for harboring Jews. She was imprisoned, along with her sister, … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Lifestyle, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Clearing away the confusion surrounding forgiveness

Posted on August 9, 2014 by salooper57

In what is arguably the most oft-recited Scripture text in history, Jesus teaches his apprentices how to pray. We call this, “The Lord’s Prayer,” or the “Our Father Prayer,” but it might be more accurate to call it, “The Disciple’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Lifestyle, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The refusal to forgive chains a person to the past

Posted on August 2, 2014 by salooper57

A relationship with God is like a Baroque music composition: there is a point (what God must do) and a counterpoint (what we do in response). The point/counterpoint structure provides the soundtrack to a life of faith. Point: “He first … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Lifestyle, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

There is no substitute for understanding

Posted on July 19, 2014 by salooper57

Most drivers have no idea what happens when they turn the key in their car’s ignition. They don’t know how turning the key makes the car move. They don’t understand the battery’s role in the process, or the operation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Use the Right Tools for the Job

Posted on July 5, 2014 by salooper57

  Millions of people have experienced the value of a rich and healthy spirituality. Yet everyone knows someone whose religion has not only not helped him, but has made him worse. How is it that one person finds treasure in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Short Story’s Place in God’s Long Story

Posted on June 28, 2014 by salooper57

Americans love the Bible. But they love the Bible like they love an ideal, not like they love a spouse. They know the Bible is important; they believe it provides inspired guidance for a life well lived; they hold it … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The prelude to an adventurous life

Posted on June 7, 2014 by salooper57

When asked what he thought of his pastor’s sermon, a man said: “The preacher starts preaching at 11:15. And every Sunday when it gets to be noon I look at my watch … and it is only 11:25.” When our … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Church, Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Home of the Disinterested

Posted on May 31, 2014 by salooper57

Floyd Collins was a legend in his own time. But his time ran out. Floyd Collins was a Kentucky farmer who dreamed of striking it rich by turning the Crystal Cave that lay beneath his family’s farm into a major … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The real problem with inventing gods

Posted on May 24, 2014 by salooper57

Some years ago I attended a conference on Intelligent Design (I.D.). The organizers invited speakers who championed I. D. theory and others who opposed it. The highlight of the conference was a debate between an internationally-known proponent of I.D. and … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment