Christian Living
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In the Face of Accusation, Face the King: How God Stands in Our Defense
“Edmund was on the other side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslan’s face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered if he ought to say something; but a moment later he felt that he was not expected to do anything except to wait, and do what he was told.” – C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe This week I decided to re-read one of my favorite series: The Chronicles of Narnia. While reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I noticed a powerful paragraph for the first time. This is the iconic scene where the witch, Jadis, comes before Aslan to stake her…
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One Step Forward, Three Steps Back: How Persevering Is Winning
Walking with God can sometimes feel like taking one step forward only to then take three steps back. One day we may achieve a great victory in our spiritual life, only to feel attacked in the same area the very next day. This can leave us wondering whether we are making any progress at all and moving forward. Are the victories we are receiving real and complete? Why is it that sometimes moving forward looks and feels like going backward? The Purpose of Perseverance The Bible has much to say on perseverance, and Paul reminds us that there is a purpose in it. “And not only that, but we also…
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What If Your Favorite Fantasy Trope is Actually True?
Royalty is among the most popular tropes in fantasy. It may be because of the high stakes, the character development, the surprises and secret identities, even the dramatic battles to take the throne and wrestle the power away from a tyrant. This trope has been resonating with young and old for years, as proved by works such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. There is something in each of us that is drawn to a normal human discovering they were meant for greatness. In fact, I believe we all have the desire for royalty echoing deep within ourselves. This begs the question: why does the…
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Two Shepherds, One Flock: What Your Pastor Can Give and What Only Christ Can Fulfill
The word shepherd conveys a mental image of a man with a rod standing watch over a vast field carefully tending his sheep. In the Christian world, a shepherd conveys the image of Christ and passages such as John 10. In our daily context, this word may even bring up a mental image of our local church pastor or our spiritual leaders. This meaningful word is charged with meaning—theological, spiritual and practical. But have we mistakenly placed expectations on our human leaders that can only be upheld by Christ as the Good Shepherd? What is it reasonable to expect from our church leaders and what needs can only be met…
