I recall one Hindu who was considering to join a church lamenting, “But I don’t want to lose all the festivals.” Indeed, post-Reformation Protestantism has been denuded of culture and fun. Major festivities take place primarily inside the church building, where activities must be more somber and organized. Participation, then, is primarily by church members….
Transition is the word I would use to describe the essence of my experience as a discipleship entrepreneur who functions at the discipleship periphery. I would have never dreamed that would be the case but how to deal with change in a healthy way has been the most important, and difficult, thing I have had…
There is no simple formula that explains human relationships. Why some relationships seem natural and easy while others are strained and difficult cannot be easily understood, and certainly cannot be worked into a universal formula. Relational complexity only increases when extending beyond two people to group dynamics. These rather obvious observations need to be front…
How many people do you see in this picture? Most people would say, “one”. But if you are going to succeed as an Alongsider, you should get used to seeing at least a hundred people in this picture. Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, neighbors, siblings, cousins, bosses, and classmates are all the invisible forces that govern…
One of the more unexpected discoveries I have made as I experience life at the discipleship periphery is the frequency and intensity of discouragement that all of us feel. Being a disciple and extending discipleship to others “out here” can be a heavy burden to bear. Most of us go through nagging seasons of fear…
“What must I believe in order to be saved?” “That Jesus died for your sins.” Those are the usual evangelistic questions and answers. Both are sub-biblical. Let’s look at one evangelistic encounter that is close to this question and answer, in Acts 16:31-32. (The jailer in Philippi brought out Paul and Silas) “and said, ‘Men…
