The Family with the Strange Habit
It all began long ago in a city far away. This family–the one with the strange habit–was not just a mom and a dad and a few kids. They had relatives living all over town. And, like other families … Continued
The Art of Asking Forgiveness
by Michael Hare, Guest Writer The ushers moved with near military precision as they distributed the communion elements in the large church I was visiting. Then I saw one usher break formation and walk over to whisper in the ear … Continued
A Friend at Midnight
The kids were down for the night and my wife was sewing when I wandered into the craft room. “I don’t know what to make of this,” she told me, “but for the past hour Paulette’s been heavy on my … Continued
Three Things to Do to Your Enemies
Nothing reveals my character more clearly than how I respond to insults, threats, or attacks. Most people return insults for insults, threats for threats, attacks for attacks. Jesus commands a radically counterintuitive response: “Love your enemies.” It sounds impossible: … Continued
The Need-Driven Ministry Trap
I was in my twenties and pumped to be starting out in my first urban ministry. I loved getting to know neighborhood people, identifying needs, and coming up with plans to meet needs. It felt good when one ministry supporter … Continued