Tag Archives: spiritual friendship

Help! (or, You Can’t Do It Alone, Part II)


There’s a great series of scenes in the movie Walk the Line, which portray Johnny Cash trying to kick his drug addiction and face the demons that drove him there, especially the tragic death of his older brother when he … Continue reading

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Uncovering Our Blind Spots


Think about your last trip down the highway… the last time you tried to switch lanes, then suddenly had to swerve back because someone in your blind spot was coming up, fast. Not a great feeling, was it? You know, … Continue reading

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We’re In This Together


We often tend to expect more from other Christians, don’t we? Just about as often, though, these expectations set us up for a fall. Scripture in fact says we’re all fallen people. We’re going to let each other down. It’s … Continue reading

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I Don’t Understand…. But I’m Not Leaving


Who’s the most offbeat friend you’ve ever had? How has your friendship with that person influenced both of you? And for that matter, when have you been the off-beat person in a group? What helped you find the group’s “rhythm” … Continue reading

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How to Guide Without Steering


We’ve all made bad decisions that seemed good at the time. Bet you’ve already thought of one. So let’s explore that before going any further: • When has a decision looked like “the right way” to you, yet turned out … Continue reading

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(Actively) Listen!


Let’s start today’s entry  in prayer… but let’s do it a little differently. Close your eyes, breathe out slowly, and pause for a moment when your lungs are empty. As you breathe out, talk silently to God. Tell him what’s … Continue reading

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Gladly Accept Imitations


Who we are and what we think comes through in a variety of ways—our words, our actions, even our facial expression or tone of voice. So it’s important that the message we communicate is consistent—not only in the sense that … Continue reading

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You Can’t Do It Alone


Think about a past transition in your life such as a move, a new job or position, or a major change in your family. Who helped you most through those changes? How did that person help you? The fact is, … Continue reading

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The Meaning of Commitment


Think about the last “meet-and-greet” social situation you attended. (For me, it was a men’s retreat this past weekend — I didn’t even know the other 3 guys from my church, let alone the other 80 or so from elsewhere … Continue reading

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So, You Want to Grow a Christian…


Since this weekly entry—really, this entire blog—is about helping other Christians grow, let’s start this week by reflecting on our own journeys so far. Think about a time where you experienced a huge “growth spurt” in your life. If you … Continue reading

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