Paul Joiner

We Become What We Worship

We all worship. In our previous post, we said that we are most fully human when we are engaged in worship. Worship is “to give something its worth” — or to put our trust, hopes, and security onto something because it is worthy of those things. Worship is like breathing. We do it without thinkingContinue reading “We Become What We Worship”

Christians and Conspiracy Theories

“The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” (Proverbs 18:8, ESV) I have been thinking about why Christians are so drawn to conspiracy theories. I find myself running into brothers and sisters in Christ who 1) are committed to Jesus, 2) love and knowContinue reading “Christians and Conspiracy Theories”

Worship? Why?

Someone suggested that we write on worship. Right now, that is like watching cooking shows while participating in a fast. But, hopefully we will increase our already hungry appetite to return to corporate worship soon. We are most fully human when engaged in worship. In fact, as we will eventually see, worship is a naturalContinue reading “Worship? Why?”

Outrage Is Not a Virtue

Outrage is not a virtue, but it is too often in my own heart. Outrage that others don’t agree with my positions, outrage that others don’t value what I value, and outrage that people aren’t doing what I think they should do. You may not always see it, but it is often there under theContinue reading “Outrage Is Not a Virtue”

Hope During Corona – Day 6

Day 6 of our reading come from Tim Keller’s book, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering. “no matter how well we have put together a good life, no matter how hard we have worked to be healthy, wealthy, comfortable with friends and family, and successful with our career—something will inevitably ruin it. No amountContinue reading “Hope During Corona – Day 6”

Hope During Corona – Day 5

Day 5 of our readings brings one of my favorite authors, Ed Welch — A Small Book for the Anxious Heart. “Think manna. For forty years in the Sinai wilderness the Lord gave his people manna one day at a time. If they tried to save some for the next day, it grew moldy. TheContinue reading “Hope During Corona – Day 5”

Hope During Corona – Day 4

Our reading for today comes from a new book of published prayers — Piercing Heaven. We over value authenticity and spontaneity, and rob ourselves of depth and stability. If you haven’t had the joy of leaning on the prayers of others, you are in for a treasure of joy and peace. I often find myself notContinue reading “Hope During Corona – Day 4”

Hope During Corona – Day 3

Day 3 brings us to Charles Spurgeon’s book of devotional readings, The Promises of God. You can download this days reading, which consists of a few days (couple of paragraphs for each day) of readings. Again, you can find the book at Westminster Book Store if you would like to order the whole thing.

Hope During Corona – Day 2

Day 2 of our reading is from David Powlison’s book God’s Grace in Your Suffering. He asks this penetrating question — “When you face trouble, loss, disability, and pain, howdoes the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ meet you and comfort you? How does grace and goodness find you, touch you, work withContinue reading “Hope During Corona – Day 2”

Hope During Corona – Day 1

These are deeply uncertain times. As I mentioned yesterday, these are days where our anxiety will increase. I have found myself wrestling with the general sense of uncertainty, my own heart has been restless as it grasps for rest. Over the next weeks, I plan to send out resources, thoughts, etc. to help us navigateContinue reading “Hope During Corona – Day 1”