All of us are more powerless than we want to admit. But in this time of quarantine, with daily reports of death and disease, we may feel more helpless than ever.
In these challenging days I’ve been thinking afresh about prayer. And I’ve come to believe what I’m beginning to experience: Prayer brings power. And the power that comes with prayer is unlike anything else we can imagine or create. Here’s what I mean.
Read MoreLast week I promised a post that I’ve decided to delay till next week. After I wrote those words, life was interrupted by the sudden, shocking, unexpected death of someone dear to our church, and I want to tell you about her today.
Emilee Joyner left this earth last Wednesday after only 34 years with us. In the last several years, she had a deep impact on everyone who worshipped at Christ’s church. And since Wednesday we’ve seen how her influence was even wider, based on a faith that was deeper than some know.
Her memorial service is happening as you might be reading this, and I want to tell you three things about Emilee I’m sharing at the service.
Read MoreI said last week and I repeated this Sunday my conviction that the church will not—we dare not—get back to “normal” once this crisis is over. The old normal just won’t work anymore. And it shouldn’t. Here are three ways the church must be different after the quarantine is lifted.
Read MoreThis shutdown is only beginning, and already most of us are looking forward to life getting back to normal. But my prayer is that the church will never get back to normal. Here’s what I mean.
Too much of the church I’ve seen in my 41 years has been complacent, apathetic, lukewarm, and self-seeking. I don’t want to get back to that.
In some ways, the church is being scattered today, and that’s what should continue:
Maybe God is using this moment to scatter the church so it can actually BE the church. Maybe this quarantine can make us more aware of the needs and hopes of those around us.
So I’m praying for a new pandemic, a gospel pandemic, a pandemic as contagious as any virus we’ve ever experienced.
Read MoreConfronted by uncertainty and pressing needs all around us, I decided to lead a Facebook Live prayer session yesterday. Inspired by Craig Groeschel’s Dangerous Prayers, I quoted several biblical prayers he lists at the back of his book. While the world has hit “Pause,” we paused for prayer. As I shared the Scriptures, dozens among the 320 who joined us wrote their prayer requests in the Comments section so all of us could pray about their needs.
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