I woke up floating in the still and quiet darkness of another day consumed by this thought:    We are programming SILENCE out of existence.    That’s bad on its face. But for me the tragedy of losing silence is how it jeopardizes our ability to live out the spiritual imperative of having SOLITUDE with GOD.    Why is pulling that off so difficult?    Because...

After NOT writing about COVID for many months, I woke up this morning thinking it was time for a reminder of how the pandemic—re-energized by its new Omicron variant–represents the kind of threat that can disrupt or derail our commitment to develop SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.    We should NOT be surprised that the COVID nightmare keeps playing in our mind’s theater. THAT’S LIFE! If it’s...

Christians trying to develop SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE are engaged in a complex and complicated WAR that pushes us to “TRY HARD” and “FIGHT HARD” to win. I get it. But we should reconsider that TRY-HARD, FIGHT HARD approach by looking at the Chinese General Sun Tzu who crushed his enemy WITHOUT fighting. Sounds Christ-like, doesn’t it?    It’s true that Christians trying to develop SPIRITUAL...

This month’s deep-dive into SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE sent me on a hunt for inspiration when I slipped downstairs in the dark to greet the new day’s blank canvas. Still trying to shake my grogginess, I landed at my five-foot high stack of hand-written journals and leafed through the coffee-stained pages from a time very early in my faith walk. One of the entries stopped me in my tracks–Plan A versus...

Why do millions of Christians around the world—INCLUDING ME–have trouble developing SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE to the level God commands?    “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness keeping yourself spiritually fit.” 1 Timothy 4:7    If you are expecting a long answer to that question, it’s not coming. The answer is complicated, but short. Here it is:   ...

THIS JUST IN FROM OUR GLOBAL ONLINE TRIBE: I have been putting in a lot of effort lately to be spiritually disciplined and grow my faith, but it’s like I’m running in place and making absolutely no progress. Doesn’t God see my effort?    This is a powerful question that produces a thought-provoking and “scary” answer that should stop us in our tracks.    Effort does not earn points...

While coaxing my rested but creaky frame from its slumber this morning it hit me that today was the day to introduce a story that I have been waiting 25 years to write.    It’s a story about my DEAD faith and a commitment to develop SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE in my life and walk with God 25 years ago this month.    Please keep reading! A few paragraphs down from here you will see what...

The calendar’s turn to January has most of us turning to our life’s roadmap in search of “WHAT’S NEXT?” In search of a prescribed pathway. In search of a to-do list.    I get it! This past weekend while resting comfortably in the eastern flank of California’s Sierras, I was searching for that prescribed pathway, but NOTHING CAME. Empty. Zero.    I should NOT be surprised. ALL believers—including...

Even AFTER posting yesterday’s message–As soon as things are under control I will commit to SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE–my mind kept pushing out new thoughts like a Pez Dispenser. It wasn’t long before “As soon as things are under control” morphed into “NO! You Will NOT Get Around to It.”    That did not surprise me because I was an expert at “not getting around” to spiritual discipline....

This just in from our global online tribe: “I committed with you to increase my SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE in January, but I have already fallen behind. What can I do to get back on track?”    I’m glad this comment surfaced early in the month because I’ve been thinking that there are probably many people already struggling to stay committed to their commitment to have more SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE...