Jul 28, 2009

There is a common Western tendency to criticize common Western tendencies. I’ve seen Christians eager to criticize Western tendencies. I’ve also seen liberals who were not Christian criticize Western tendencies. Criticizing “Western tendencies” is a Western thing to do.

Jul 28, 2009

A Greek word for self-discipline is the root of the Christian idea of "asceticism." Behavioral people call it "delayed gratification." Scripture calls it denying oneself and taking up the cross. Nobody ever became an Olympic athlete, a musician, or even an effective professional or a good spouse, without practicing the skills and habits they mean to embody.

Jul 9, 2009

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Have you ever wondered what Jesus did when He prayed all night? Have you ever tried to pray all night? If your conception of prayer is a monologue of needs, information and requests, then your experience of prayer is either that it is very short or very repetitive…