lent – Page 5 – 300 words a day

Community for Jesus.

(Part one of a reflection on Matthew 17 and Luke 9) One day, after they had been together for more than a couple years, Jesus told the disciples he was going to die. They were going to go up to Jerusalem and he would be arrested and killed and rise again. This confused the disciples. […]

by Jon Swanson

Notes.

I’ve been in lots of conversations this week. Here are some bits. “I need 300 words,” I said to Nancy as we were on our walk. “There’s one,” she said, gesturing in front of us. “And there’s another.” It’s been a long week. “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not […]

by Jon Swanson

Expectations, Lent, and how we are similarly different.

(First published February 8, 2016) Some of my friends with spiritual interests anticipate Lent with a sense of gratitude. They are thankful for what they learn about themselves through the disciplines of giving up and of moving toward God. They appreciate the invitation to participate with others known as the Body of Christ. I have […]

by Jon Swanson

Everyone is spiritual.

What if everyone is spiritual just as everyone is physical, as part of being human? Not just people who are already following Jesus. And including people who are following Jesus. What if everyone has spiritual temperaments, personality traits? Not just people who have been given that personality after they start praying. Think about it for […]

by Jon Swanson

Unpacking temperaments

Last week we talked about spiritual temperaments. Let’s unpack the idea that we may be created with different personalities in how we connect with God. Over on Facebook, my friend Rich Dixon said, “Donald Miller observes how much we’ve set up traditional churches to look like mini-universities. One wonders, though, about the big chunk of […]