Faith Muscles- Going Through Trials with Grace
September 22, 2020Modern Pilgrim #32- Pilgrim doesn’t realize that all the fear she feels about her journey is coming out of her in the form of impatience, complaining and an unpleasant tone of voice. When the Good Shepherd privately corrects her, she is ashamed of how she’s behaved. Every pilgrim in the group is carrying a heavy burden, not just her. She’s the only one who’s been snarky about it. How do you treat your family and close friends when you’re slugging through a tough time? Do you find yourself thin-skinned, impatient, sharp-toned? Withdrawn and uncommunicative? Strident and harsh? You could check…
How to Grow Faith that Overcomes Obstacles
The Modern Pilgrim #31- After much wandering, separated from the Good Shepherd’s group, Pilgrim is delighted to have found them again. Just as she settles back into her place, the Good Shepherd leads them that evening to the banks of…
When the Church Chooses Friendship with the World Over God.
So which movie or rock star did you crush on as a teen? Posters of David Cassidy and The Monkees gazed down on me from my bedroom walls during my teen years. I never missed a TV show or televised…
The Compromised Church- Twinkie Theology and Kool-Aid Doctrine
The Modern Pilgrim #30- Pilgrim continues to search for the Good Shepherd and the other pilgrims, stopping to rest in another church with open doors. Thinking she’s found a compatible group of pilgrims inside, she’s shocked to discover that these…
The Harvest is Ready. Are We?
The Modern Pilgrim #29- Pilgrim is lost. While she snoozed in the Comfy Cozy Church, the Good Shepherd led the other pilgrims far beyond her ability to see them. Confused and lonely, she dashes into the next building on the…
The Danger of the Comfy Cozy Church
The Modern Pilgrim #28 Pilgrim notices another church the Good Shepherd passes by. He warns his flock that it’s a dangerous place. However, Pilgrim is tired from feeling out of sorts and left behind, thanks to all the new pilgrims.…
The Dangers of Hypocrisy
The Modern Pilgrim #27 Pilgrim is embarrassed when the Good Shepherd corrects her for speaking sweetly to the faces of new pilgrims and then criticizing them behind their backs, with her friends. Ever hear something like this from an unsaved…
What Can Happen When Church Folks Feel More Passion for Their Traditions and Styles Than for Lost Souls
The Modern Pilgrim #26- Pilgrim struggles to understand the Good Shepherd’s methods and behavior. Many of the newcomers to the pilgrimage are introducing climbing songs that make the Good Shepherd, and many of the pilgrims, want to skip and dance…
When Church Folk Become More Dangerous to the Gospel Than the Kingdom of Darkness
The Modern Pilgrim # 25- Pilgrim catches sight of a magnificent building just as the Good Shepherd leads the flock out of the desert and prepares them to climb a mountain. When she discovers it’s a church, she assumes the…
Faith and Courage Grow in the Wilderness
The Modern Pilgrim #24 Pilgrim is starting to appreciate the quiet of the wilderness with the Good Shepherd. It’s so much easier to hear his voice and she’s learning so much about herself and Him. Staying thankful in a desert…
Finding God’s Strength in the Valley of Tears
The Modern Pilgrim #23 in which the desert plains give way to a barren valley. Pilgrim becomes weary and is tempted to turn back. All of us travel through dark, tearful valleys, at times. One moment we walk in a…