Bread For The Journey
And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched Elijah and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:7–8)
For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14)
The Lord, who knows our frame and our fragility, knows exactly what we need to keep going. Sometimes it is a snack, or manna just enough for the day. Other times he knows we need something that will fuel us through a longer ordeal.
Of course, God doesn’t need to use more words to carry us through a longer ordeal. In fact I vividly remember His promise, “I will be with you,” sustaining me through a season of dark months that turned into years…and that was just five words.
But in our framework here, we’re using “bread for the journey” as a place to wrestle with ideas in longer form. Think essays, more than blog posts. (Shorter pieces will go under “bread for the day.”) We hope some of this work is helpful to you in your own journey.
How to Care for People Navigating Hard Times – Part 1
Listening is Caring Our family recently received a tough diagnosis. Our kids’ grandmother, my wife’s mom, my mother-in-law (who finally asked me a few years ago “Why don’t you call me Mom?”), one of the kindest, most conscientious, loyal, good-natured,...
Becoming a Non-Anxious Presence with Edwin Friedman – Part 3 of 3
It Takes Navigating Pain Wisely to Become A Non-Anxious Presence You may remember the story of The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a children’s book with a very grown-up theme – that we become real through suffering. I think of that story as we turn to the question that...
Releasing Our Anger – Part 3
This is Part 3 of a series. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 at these links. God’s Remedy for Releasing Anger Remember that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is moving us beyond the letter of the law, beyond religious duties. As he says elsewhere, “Go and learn what...
Releasing Our Anger – Part 2
This is part 2 in a series of 3 articles. You can read part 1 here. Drop the Rock The verb tense that Jesus uses when talking about anger in Matthew 5 suggests that the anger he’s talking about is ongoing. It’s not the rock that we pick up; it’s the rock that we hold...
Releasing Our Anger – Part 1
Holding onto Hurt Corrodes the Heart Your anger can kill you. And letting go of it is not a simple act of the will. Even if we know we should let go, even if we’re determined to do so, we might find ourselves holding on even more tightly. Then we’ve got a toxic...
How Fear of Conflict Erodes Trust
Trust is essential to a healthy culture. That’s not controversial. It’s common wisdom. What is controversial is that you can’t build trust without vulnerability. Vulnerability precedes trust. That’s far from common wisdom. Because vulnerability, when it’s real, is...
How Do I Make Friends?
When I’ve taught this material, in many different contexts, the most common question asked is, “But how do I make friends? Especially at this stage of my life?" We’re lonely. Reading a book or listening to a podcast on what makes for a great friendship can be like...
How My Tech is Shaping My Soul
“We had no idea what we were doing.” That’s a line from Jonathan Haidt’s recent essay in The Atlantic, End the Phone-Based Childhood Now, excerpted from his important new book The Anxious Generation - How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of...
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In the last 30 years, 40 million people who used to attend church stopped their participation. Broom Tree Media exists for those who want to love the church – and who wish the church could do better and be better.
A recent study reported that 46% of pastors under the age of 45 say they are considering quitting full-time ministry. Broom Tree Media offers content and support to care for struggling leaders, and to imagine alongside them a model of leadership that leads to flourishing for leaders and their communities.
Research shows that 92% of individuals who actively engage with faith-based content online report a positive impact on their spiritual growth and connection with God. Broom Tree Media's online resources and content can contribute to the spiritual development and well-being of individuals seeking to deepen their faith.
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