My seven year old has become a bedtime theologian. All day long its glitter, dancing and unicorns and then magically after getting tucked into bed, prayers said, kisses given...out pops true deep theological questions. You know the kind; maybe you have had a...
Our jobs aren’t just about making money, they’re also about establishing social status. Some jobs are celebrated and others are just tolerated. But whether you’re a six-figure brain surgeon or you clean toilets at the local Taco Bell for minimum wage, does all...
Researcher Christian Smith uncovered some fascinating insights while working on the National Study for Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill a few years ago. When asked the question, “what is the purpose of this life?” a majority of...
On a plane ride home from the Middle East after a month of work with the organization Live Dead, Hayden Mills wrote down his new life’s mission God had given him while on the trip: “My mission is to make Jesus Known in all the world through the creative use of...
I would suspect we have all had an instance of working for or alongside a leader who didn’t lead well. Given no one is perfect, I suspect it happens more often than not. So, what is one to do when your leader doesn’t lead well? Here are a few options: Create an...
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which he set forth...
Powerlessness can be a gift. It can connect us to God in unmatched ways, draw us into His covering and protection, and tap into a strength so much greater than our own. We were made to find our rest in the Father, but to get there we usually have to walk the uncomfortable road that leads us to the end of ourselves.
I have been reflecting on the word “giver.” The verb give is defined as: “to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation.” Therefore a giver is the one who presents voluntarily or without expecting compensation. What I witnessed these two men give was inspiring. They gave their love and friendship. They gave their time, talents and treasures to their family, their businesses, their friends, and their community. They freely gave (shared) their knowledge of business, carpentry, landscaping, horse training, and politics. They gave a seat at their table to anyone who needed a meal and some fellowship. They gave jobs to those who needed one. What do you freely give? What will you be remembered by others for giving?
Our SUV bounced mercilessly over the rugged ground. To call these dirt paths “roads” would’ve been a generous misnomer, as stretches of definable terrain quickly gave way to an obstacle course of potholes and extreme turns that pushed our vehicle’s suspension...
When we are lost in the striving and the realization that we will never be enough, in walks the Author to remind us that we were never mean’t to be. Our lives are part of a grander story than we could ever write on our own.
You know every Monday morning at our housing company, CRF Affordable Housing, we have a conference call where all of our staff across the state of Indiana can call in and kind of give updates on things that are happening at each of the properties, share stories, and we’re able to share things with them as well. But, the way we have committed to start this call every Monday morning is that everyone shares a win; everyone shares something good that’s happened. Maybe at their property, within the context of their work, or even within their own family or something personal that’s happened.
You know one of the things we talk about here at The Stone Table is how our stories, the story of our life, the story of our careers, really the story of everything as a follower of Jesus, is really part of a much greater story. We talk about our work and the great story and I’ve had some folks ask me, you know, “What does it look like to engage my work and my career and my vocation through that great story? Is it ok if I like my work? Is it ok if I pursue a career that excites me? Is it okay if I make money and profit from my work? Or, does embedding my story in a greater story mean that I can’t enjoy any of those things?”
I just wanted to take a second and talk to all of my pastor friends out there today. You know, I spent 12 years in full time ministry and really, I think over this this last year and a half, have felt such a pull and a longing to encourage my pastor friends because I think this season of COVID and 2020, and now into 2021, has been one of the most difficult seasons to be a leader of any kind but especially a spiritual leader in our polarized world where everything seems to create conflict even within the context of our local churches.