Slow down, Christmas

Weeks before Thanksgiving, our culture jumps in the Christmas car and jams the accelerator down. Christmas decorations go on sale about Halloween, and we roar past Thanksgiving, barreling down upon December 25. Then we sit exhausted among leftovers and torn wrapping, wondering what happened, barely remembering the journey. Read along in my annual experiment to "slow down Christmas."

A friend’s faith journey: Phillip Slaughter, Part 1

Phillip Slaughter is the former campus minister at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He is also a great friend. Phillip has agreed to allow some of his recent posts about his faith journey be used here as guest blog. I encourage you to read along. This is the first of three entries.

Choosing Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A national holiday. A mindset. A lean of the spirit into the eternal. I love this Thursday stillness. Coffee. Macy’s Parade on the TV. A house full of family. This has been a wild ride of a year. Who…

A personal retreat

I had never heard of the concept of a personal retreat until 1996. I had served as a campus minister in Arkansas for about a year when my boss encouraged me to take one. When I asked what he meant, he described it as simply a few days to be quiet, to rest, to pray, read and enjoy my relationship with God. I remember distinctly his encouragement to not get frustrated if I fell asleep on the first day and felt like I’d “wasted” a day. He said that sleep may be the most spiritual thing I do initially on a retreat.

Honoring God-fearers

Last year, I wrote a post about those who "fear the Lord" from Psalm 15:4. I came across the post in my TimeHop feed today, and strangely enough, I'd read Psalm 15 this morning. I thought it appropriate to revisit the post and mention some of the people who have inspired me this past year.

Trending now

Cancer hiccups
When it’s time to leave your church
Our Story, ruining the Metro
Why do Christian women struggle with friendships?