Category spiritual formation
On Scribbles and False Beliefs: Are They Beautiful?
In my Christmas letter, I made the point that we should value a person’s false beliefs in much the same way I appreciate the scribbled art my kids offer to me. I am not saying that false ideas are beautiful or intrinsically valuable when abstracted from their owner. Surely not. The woman’s claim that her […]
When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don’t Get Off the Horse Altogether
Yesterday I shouted at my daughter in such a way that I am ashamed to admit it. I had certainly fallen off my high horse of feeling like a good parent (again). But I also felt like getting off the horse of “good parenting” altogether, both hating myself for getting it wrong and thinking I’ll […]
My "Don’t Be Like Me" Story(s) – Lest We Get Cocky
It’s important to note when you read my Christmas letter, A Tale of Two Gifts, that Adam is not alone in making the mistake he made. I’ve made very similar mistakes, if not precisely the same mistake. My October 2003 letter, She Had Concerns, But I Wasn’t Listening, tells one such story, and then relates […]
What Adam Was Doing Right
When you read the story of JFA’s volunteer “Adam” in my Christmas letter, you may be tempted to heap scorn on him for missing an important opportunity to minister to a woman in need. That’s the opposite of the right response, in my view. I think Adam was doing exactly the right thing, at least […]
"Esau’s Soup" by Daniel Joseph
Note: I’m privileged to post this recent spoken word performance by Daniel Joseph along with the text (below). Used by permission. This is the performance I mentioned earlier this month. – Steve Wagner (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, […]
Human Beings Matter More 