Christian Reflections

By Charles Christian As a United Methodist minister, I tend to take seriously admonitions by the denomination’s founder, John Wesley (1703-1791). He and his brother Charles, a prominent hymn writer, helped start the movement we currently know as Methodism. In 18th Century England, not everyone had the right to vote, but there were those within

By Charles Christian I had a mentor and professor who, after he made a profound point about growing in faith and walking in maturity, would sum things up by saying something like this: “So, on my good days, I find myself benefitting from this greatly.” This phrase, “on my good days,” has stuck with me

By Charles Christian I was reading recently that not only do immediate personal issues affect our mood and our health, but the news around us can impact us, as well. The headlines that we’re bombarded with on the internet, television and in newspapers, even though they may be far away or not related directly to

By Charles Christian A pastor invited a younger colleague to a professional basketball game. The young man had not been to many pro games, so he was excited to be included. My friend was a sports chaplain, so he got in free and was allowed to invite a friend to the games. The young man

By Charles Christian We were born into a unique situation. We have unique personalities and gifts. We are also born into unique families and communities. Some families and communities are loving, caring and nurturing. Others are neglectful and even harmful. However, most either express thanks for the healthy community they were raised in or at

By Charles Christian September is traditionally called “harvest month.” Because the Bible was written during an era when many people lived in farming communities, it is filled with stories and lessons about “the harvest.” Even though farmers work all year long raising various crops, designating a specific harvest month can remind us of important lessons

By Charles Christian We start learning from the very beginning. We go from full dependence to greater independence, especially when it comes to basic functions. Even if there are physical limitations that limit our independence, we still learn and grow. There is a sense in which we are always learning and growing. Some continue the

By Charles Christian Mistakes are embarrassing. I remember seeing a commercial featuring a college bass drummer in a marching band. During the halftime show in front of a national audience, he turned the wrong way and had to quickly step to the side when everyone else was suddenly marching toward him. The commercial, which was

By Charles Christian Any new adventure can increase stress levels. New adventures can also get our adrenaline pumping and sharpen our focus. New jobs, new environments, new relationships and even a new school year can provide opportunities to break out of our daily ruts by challenging us to adjust our thinking and actions to adapt.

By Charles Christian Running has been popular for centuries. What started as a method to simply get from place to place faster has become the subject of athletic competition in virtually every country in the world. Millions of people are focused on the Summer Olympics in Paris, where runners compete for medals. It seems that

By Charles Christian Teachers have been highly respected throughout history. In Ancient Greece, revolutionary teachers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle not only influenced the Roman Empire, but they also impacted centuries of thinkers and leaders. The Bible is filled with references to “teaching” and “teachers.” In the Old Testament, the word “rabbi,” who was the

By Charles Christian A break-up song from the 1970s has the singer lamenting about his ex, “We just disagree.” The chorus of the song begins this way: “So, let’s leave it alone because we can’t see eye to eye; there’s only you and me, and we just disagree.” Break-up songs are always sad. However, I

By Charles Christian By definition, a “miracle” describes an event that goes beyond the normal or natural course of events. Most often, something is described as a miracle if it speeds up or overrides a natural process. It is “supernatural” — “above and beyond nature.” Some people believe in miracles. Others do not. Many claim

By Charles Christian In the Bible, especially the Old Testament, it is common for special events to be commemorated by a marker of some kind. Usually, these markers are called “altars.” Altars are places that mark a sacred space or event, so that future generations can gather to remember, to celebrate and to pray. That

By Charles Christian I think most of us could set aside one minute to make a list of the most influential people in our lives. Go ahead and try it. The list would probably include relatives, teachers, close friends and maybe even co-workers. Most or all of these people likely would not be famous in

By Charles Christian My sister-in-law gave me a small painting from the monks of Conception Abbey featuring Jesus asleep on a boat filled with anxious disciples in the middle of a storm. The depiction is taken from a story in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus tells his disciples, most of whom are fishermen, to get

By Charles Christian Like many people, I was raised to avoid certain “four-letter words.” I will certainly not list those words here, since they are so well-known. However, there are at least two four-letter words that we should not avoid, yet too often we do. The first word is “help.” It is hard for many

By Charles Christian Some people are intimidated by reading the Bible. They are afraid it will be filled with lists of laws and prohibitions or Shakespeare-like declarations in words too difficult to understand. The good news is that the Bible most often conveys its message through the use of stories. While there are lists, laws

By Charles Christian There’s usually at least one. Sometimes they rotate. It seems that at least one person in our lives — whether they be people at work, neighbors or even family members — who consistently get under our skin. For some, it is unintentional. There are just people who don’t connect with us, at

By Charles Christian Fear makes us do things we normally would not. While fear is a motivator, it is ultimately the weakest of them. When people are afraid, they may make short-term changes to their behavior. However, studies tell us that fear-based changes don’t last. No wonder the Bible is filled with reminders not to

By Charles Christian It’s just not popular to go to church anymore. Statistics bear this out, with the “nones” – people who profess no specific religious faith – becoming the fastest-growing group in the United States. I don’t say this in a way to mock those who don’t attend or claim a particular church connection.

By Charles Christian Some of the earliest recorded documents in human history include descriptions of conflict. Sacred documents like the Bible introduce us to a consistent array of human conflicts, even as the overall story of redemption progresses. Thankfully, the Bible also contains approaches for resolving conflicts that will inevitably arise among humans. Having a

By Charles Christian Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” This sentiment is echoed throughout the Bible. Often God is recorded as calling people to take small steps that eventually lead to bigger things. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham and his

By Charles Christian A well-known minister and Christian theologian named Stanley Hauerwas once said, “As people of faith, we should live our lives in such a way that our lives would make no sense without God.” In other words, for people of faith reliance upon God should be our defining characteristic. For Christians, this means

By Charles Christian A professor was asked by a student for insight on how to become great. “That’s a tricky question,” the professor said. “There are just so many definitions of greatness.” The student answered, “How would you define greatness, and where can I start on that path?” The professor thought for a moment as

By Charles Christian When it comes to hard choices, we hold our breath, say a prayer and do the best we can. The hard part is that we can’t always know how those choices will turn out, and sometimes we are unpleasantly surprised at the results. The good news is that this happens to virtually

By Charles Christian Often when we discuss habits, we talk about negative or unhealthy ones. However, not all habits are harmful. Some are actually good for us and can be nurtured throughout our lives. Neuroscientists tell us that habits are repeated behaviors that sort of weave new paths into our brains and produce a sense