moment __________________
As an English teacher and a writer, I have a strong appreciation for words. More than just loving certain words for their sounds, the nuances of language and meaning can keep my mind occupied far beyond what my family considers normal. So, the other day, when I heard the words momentary and momentum, I began to think about their vastly…
April 2, 2012
What are you doing this week to reflect on Jesus’ passion?
splendor in the mundane
Sometimes life is tedious. While self-help books promise endless passion for life and the mystics promise endless ecstasy, the reality is that many of our days are simply mundane. And they need to be. There are clothes to wash, forms to complete, toddlers to feed, drains to unclog, papers to write, and shoes to resole. At work or at home,…
man of God
Recently a colleague asked me, “What would you like to be?” I replied, “Well, in terms of career planning, I don’t know. But I want to be someone who is wise, compassionate, and humble.”
In Paul’s letter to his protégé, he didn’t instruct Timothy to become an A-list pastor; rather he reminded him that he was a “man of God”…
intense passion
James 4:6-9: He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for…
passion for people
A woman in her 70s has become a local celebrity in China due to her energetic efforts as a volunteer traffic cop. Granny Cai, as she is affectionately known, risks her life on a daily basis to make sure that both drivers and pedestrians obey the traffic rules on a busy road close to her home. She says, “I am…
adrenaline for the soul
Using contemporary language, while attempting to capture the depth and vitality of the original words that moved and inspired early believers in Jesus, Eugene Peterson translated Hebrews 12:2-3 this way: Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating…
complete integrity
If Jesus were to identify one thing He appreciates about you, what would it be? Nathanael, whom some scholars say was also known as Bartholomew, heard the following words from Jesus, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity” (John 1:47).
What is a “genuine son of Israel”? Romans 2:29 states, “A true Jew is one…
passion and pigtails
In 1853, 21-year-old Hudson Taylor left Liverpool for China. His ship arrived in Shanghai, one of five treaty ports China had opened to foreigners following The First Opium War with England. Soon after arriving, Taylor made a radical decision (at least for Protestant missionaries of his day). He decided to wear Chinese clothing and grow a pigtail (as Chinese men…
God's grand pursuit
The news story was the kind of breathtaking romance you would expect to see on the big screen. Patrick Moberg spotted a stunningly beautiful woman across the crowded Manhattan subway station, but he wasn’t able to reach her. In desperation, Moberg created a Web site (www.nygirlofmydreams.com) and began a search across New York City, looking for the girl whom he…
carpe diem
Carpe diem! Seize the day, boys! Make your lives extraordinary!” urged English teacher John Keating in the movie Dead Poets Society.
I like that motto: Carpe diem (a Latin phrase for “seize the day”). It impels me to live each day meaningfully and not waste a single moment. After watching a Hong Kong TV drama recently, I gained an expanded understanding of…
