The past two weeks, we have been looking at the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13, as utilized by author Peter Scazzero in his book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” Scazzero sees “three false identities or masks that Satan offers each one of us.” I never identified...
Last week in Fresh Start, I told you about a book my pastoral coach has me reading: Peter Scazzero’s “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” In the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13, Scazzero sees “three false identities or masks that Satan offers each one of us.” They...
Allen, my pastoral coach, (and he’s an awesome coach!) often suggests books for me to read. The most recent one: Peter Scazzero's “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” has already rocked my world. In the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13, Scazzero sees “three false identities or masks...
When I was growing up, there was a kid my age who came from a devout Baptist family. I once heard an adult observe how good the kids were in that family and how they were faithfully in church. The kid my age often spoke...
As the Major League Baseball season winds down, controversy is heating up outside T-Mobile Park, the home of the Seattle Mariners. As the “Seattle Times” reports: If you have been to a game at T-Mobile Park, you have heard them. They are omnipresent. They are loud....
Recently, I was briefly taken in by a biblical myth that apparently has been around for a few centuries. One of my daily devotionals focused on Psalm 51:8: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer...
Ramona and I had friends over for dinner recently. It was a beautiful evening, and we were grilling chicken, so we decided to eat outside. That changed when yellowjackets decided to join us, chasing us inside. As we scooped up dishes and food from the...
We take a lot of things for granted, perhaps no more than the sun. That’s right, the sun. Sure, you complain when it goes missing behind the clouds or when you get too much of it. But when was the last time you marveled at...
Jim Marshall, by every meaningful measure, was one of the very best defensive linemen ever to play in the NFL. His 20 NFL seasons included 282 consecutive starts and 127 quarterback sacks. He was part of the feared Purple People Eaters, Minnesota Vikings defensive line....
What is the one sin (committed by those who have accepted Christ) that insults God? Here is a popular guess:Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this...