23 Things is a learning phenomenon within the circles in which I work. To keep up with trending technologies and to train those that are somewhat leery of new web movements, a librarian developed 23 Things to introduce these technologies and to give participants the opportunity to develop new skills and apply internet based tools... Continue Reading →
Re-Hacked #3: Why Your Current Plan For Spiritual Growth Doesn’t Work
To mark the one-year anniversary of the beginning of this blog, I am re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past year. This post first appeared on June 7. Dieting with just the notion of eating better doesn’t have deep impact, you must have a plan. Going to the gym and working out without... Continue Reading →
What Changed On Sept. 11
September 11, 2001 was a key moment in my life. I was deeply affected by the tragedy. It sickened me to think that there was evil in the world capable of accomplishing what that group of terrorists accomplished. I decided that week that I didn't want to be a part of a world where this... Continue Reading →
Let Him Hear: Reading Revelation For Spiritual Growth #2
In Jesus' letters to the seven church in Revelation, each letter includes the words, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." I find it interesting that we are called, like the seven churches, to listen for the what the Spirit says. But is there a book in... Continue Reading →
Reading Revelation For Spiritual Growth
I despise the end times obsession that is prevalent among American Christians. If I started a class today on how to do the things that Jesus taught and it was scheduled at the same time as a class on the end times, we would be outnumbered probably six to one. This doesn't make sense to... Continue Reading →
Learning From Jesus
How would you define learning? Is it the collection of knowledge? Is it performance in an evaluative situation such as a test? Is it only demonstrated through everyday situations? In Jesus' day, many could not read and the written word was found on large awkward scrolls that would have been time consuming to produce and... Continue Reading →
What Your Spiritual Practices Might Be Missing
Sometimes I am at fault on this blog by making spiritual formation about what we do. I talk much about spiritual disciplines such as solitude, prayer, meditation, and scripture reading. But the reality is that these are just tools that we use to grow closer to God. A lumberjack would never say that his goal... Continue Reading →
Do Women Take To Spiritual Things More Than Men?
This weekend, I will be leading a men's retreat consisting of about 7 guys. I began thinking about how men approach spiritual matters and whether or not women approach the spiritual life more easily than men? Here are some of my observations: Women: enjoy talking more than men (making sharing fears, doubts, and struggles easier)... Continue Reading →
Fear #4 – More Responsibility
One of the basic rules of life is that with age comes more responsibility. I am more aware of this on this particular day because it is my birthday. Just as physical growth brings more responsibility, so does spiritual growth. When I get closer to God I realize more of my own failings and how... Continue Reading →
Changing Ourselves Can Be Frightful
My oldest daughter is convinced that she is a "germaphobe". She is in that pre-teen age range that starts to obsess over identity. All of those labels that are so stereotypical of school start to surface during this time. So, my daughter has chosen "germaphobe" as her identity. I am sure she will graduate to... Continue Reading →
Grow Up Blog 