Walking Through the Fire

Jesus’ words in Luke 6 stop me cold every time: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” He’s not condemning wealth — He’s confronting comfort. And that’s a hard word in a world where we work hard  for  comfort. This third entry in the  Love Is a Verb  series isn’t about money management or guilt. It’s about spiritual numbness — the kind that creeps in when we get so used to our blessings that we stop noticing who’s been left out of them. In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man isn’t cruel. He’s not abusive. He’s just… indifferent. He never noticed the suffering at his gate. And that’s the indictment. This is where biblical justice comes in. We often think of justice as grand gestures or political positions. But sometimes, justice is just learning to see — to notice the needs at our gate. To loosen our grip. To let someone else in. If love is a verb, then justice is love’s hardest expres...

After more than two decades in ministry, I find myself walking through fire again — not one that consumes, but one that refines. This season has brought a fresh sense of urgency, and a deeper invitation to walk with God into unknown places. Here’s a reflection on where I’ve been, what I’m learning, and what I believe God is calling me to— and maybe all of us — in this moment. I've been in ministry long enough to know that I don't know everything — but also long enough to have experienced the sweetness of God’s hand in my life. The refinement I’m experiencing is not one that brings discouragement or disillusionment. Rather, it’s a refining fire that leaves me encouraged. I’m in a season where the familiar somehow feels unfamiliar, where God’s call still burns in my heart… but differently than before. It feels deeper, quieter — and yet more urgent. The Unlikely Call I don’t have the familiar story so many of my friends share about an early call to ministry. In fact, my call came...