Perspectives
If We Had More Prayer…

If We Had More Prayer…

“If we had more prayer and less selfishness, our world would be much better.” A person I have known and respected for many years wrote that simple sentence to me in an email the other day, and for some reason it really resonated with me: More prayer and less...

Living Intentionally

Living Intentionally

What would you do if you knew you only had six months to live? That question confronted me during a recent close brush with death. A blood clot had formed in my lungs. I filled a tiny red notebook provided by the hospital with thoughts on how to leave nothing...

Proximity and Presence

Proximity and Presence

    At Canaan we are trying to live into our tagline “the church where love makes the difference,” which we have found to be a very dangerous statement. Christians often tell people we love them before we have ever lived with, listened to, or learned from...

Heaven: It’s Not for Everyone

Heaven: It’s Not for Everyone

Most people believe in an afterlife. And in most cases, this belief involves a good place and a bad place. If you’re a good person, and you embrace the right beliefs, you go to the good place. If you’re not, and you don’t, you go to the bad place. Seems simple enough....

Improving Family Relationships: A New Year’s Resolution

Improving Family Relationships: A New Year’s Resolution

    You’ve heard it said many times before. You’ve likely even said it to yourself. “Don’t sacrifice your family for your ministry.” You know it’s true, but you continue to struggle with the implementation. It’s not just about the preaching and teaching, but...

To Give or Volunteer, that is–NOT–the question.

To Give or Volunteer, that is–NOT–the question.

The American church has, in practice, converted some principles away from their original meaning. Particularly, it seems the ideal of volunteering has replaced true giving. To make my point, let’s convert a few well-known verses to how they’re being played out in...

Good, Better, Best

Good, Better, Best

Exercising discernment when every choice is a good choice It happens more often than I like to admit. My husband and I will be comparing our schedules, synching our calendars for the upcoming week, when we realize that we’ve got (at least) two important events...

The Hardest Part of Being a Missionary

The Hardest Part of Being a Missionary

You know it is true…most people avoid ever praying the prayer asking God if they are to be headed to the mission field! Why? God might actually say “YES, GO!”. Do you think that is the hardest part of being a missionary? There is no rock solid evidence or great...

Does the Passing of Billy Graham Signal the Death of Christianity?

Does the Passing of Billy Graham Signal the Death of Christianity?

When I came to Wheaton College, I began to serve as the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair. That role, and the role at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton, came with a key responsibility. Eventually, I was given a card that I was told I needed to carry on my person at...

If We Had More Prayer…

If We Had More Prayer…

“If we had more prayer and less selfishness, our world would be much better.” A person I have known and respected for many years wrote that simple sentence to me in an email the other day, and for some reason it really resonated with me: More prayer and less...

Living Intentionally

Living Intentionally

What would you do if you knew you only had six months to live? That question confronted me during a recent close brush with death. A blood clot had formed in my lungs. I filled a tiny red notebook provided by the hospital with thoughts on how to leave nothing...

Proximity and Presence

Proximity and Presence

    At Canaan we are trying to live into our tagline “the church where love makes the difference,” which we have found to be a very dangerous statement. Christians often tell people we love them before we have ever lived with, listened to, or learned from...

Heaven: It’s Not for Everyone

Heaven: It’s Not for Everyone

Most people believe in an afterlife. And in most cases, this belief involves a good place and a bad place. If you’re a good person, and you embrace the right beliefs, you go to the good place. If you’re not, and you don’t, you go to the bad place. Seems simple enough....

Improving Family Relationships: A New Year’s Resolution

Improving Family Relationships: A New Year’s Resolution

    You’ve heard it said many times before. You’ve likely even said it to yourself. “Don’t sacrifice your family for your ministry.” You know it’s true, but you continue to struggle with the implementation. It’s not just about the preaching and teaching, but...

To Give or Volunteer, that is–NOT–the question.

To Give or Volunteer, that is–NOT–the question.

The American church has, in practice, converted some principles away from their original meaning. Particularly, it seems the ideal of volunteering has replaced true giving. To make my point, let’s convert a few well-known verses to how they’re being played out in...

Good, Better, Best

Good, Better, Best

Exercising discernment when every choice is a good choice It happens more often than I like to admit. My husband and I will be comparing our schedules, synching our calendars for the upcoming week, when we realize that we’ve got (at least) two important events...

The Hardest Part of Being a Missionary

The Hardest Part of Being a Missionary

You know it is true…most people avoid ever praying the prayer asking God if they are to be headed to the mission field! Why? God might actually say “YES, GO!”. Do you think that is the hardest part of being a missionary? There is no rock solid evidence or great...

Does the Passing of Billy Graham Signal the Death of Christianity?

Does the Passing of Billy Graham Signal the Death of Christianity?

When I came to Wheaton College, I began to serve as the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair. That role, and the role at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton, came with a key responsibility. Eventually, I was given a card that I was told I needed to carry on my person at...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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