Number one on my list of Tough Guys for Jesus: St. Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556). His leg was smashed by a cannon ball when he was a soldier. He endured surgery to set the bones — long before the day of anesthetics. Here’s where the tough guy points rack up: The bone didn’t set […]
Archives for July 2013
John Wesley’s OTHER Secret to Building Community
Once upon a time there was a kite. It had a wonderful time when a certain little kid would take it to the park. It caught the wind and soared high. It loved to be close to the clouds — but it longed to fly higher. “This kid is holding me back. I could go […]
Prayer for Pastors
[UPDATE: This class is now over, but if you click the button below I’ll send you information when I offer another one.] [maxbutton id=”3″] I’ll be teaching a five-week online continuing education course I’m calling “Prayer for Pastors” beginning September 16. This is offered through my employer, the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, in our […]
John Wesley’s Secret for Building Community
In 1748 John Wesley tried to explain the amazing growth of his Methodist movement. He had created a remarkably effective model of small group community, and they were growing fast. What was the secret? The whole thing took them by surprise, he said. “…they had no previous design or plan at all; but everything arose […]
The NEXT-to-Last Word in Prayer: “In Jesus’ Name”
Last week I wrapped up my series-within-a-series on the Lord’s Prayer in the Heidelberg Catechism with a post on “Amen!,” the little word we use to wrap up most of our prayers. I made an off-hand remark about the phrase Christians often slip in as the penultimate word: “In Jesus’ name we pray…” To my […]