discipleship Archives - Page 2 of 4

Joy of Good News

Posted on December 17, 2015December 4, 2018 by Michael Rose

There are many kinds of good news. The best news for me was the birth of my three sons, and seeing them each succeed in their own ways. For some, good news may be winning the lottery or an all clear on a medical test, getting a new job or buying a new car. We…

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

Posted on August 13, 2015September 13, 2016 by Michael Rose

Once upon a time, a Sufi mystic was searching for something on the street outside her small hut. The sun was setting, and darkness was descending, as few people gathered around her. “What have you lost? What are you searching for? Perhaps we can help,” they said. “I have lost my needle.” The mystic replied. One of the people said, “Well, the sun…

Excavating Your True Self

Posted on May 12, 2015May 14, 2018 by Michael Rose

There’s a lot of mystery and often a lot of confusion when we start to speak about one’s “True Self.” Depending upon your religious background, this can be relatively normal, completely bizarre and for some quite dubious. However, in the sense of healthy Christian faith, the pursuit of the authentic self is simply discovering and…

Pastors: Stop the Cloning! – Discipleship

Posted on April 28, 2015June 23, 2016 by Michael Rose

Have you ever experienced a situation where someone, in the name of Jesus, tried to fashion you into their own image of Jesus? As well-meaning leaders we want to help others mature in faith, help them grow in Christ-likeness. Unfortunately, we can sometimes have a narrow idea of what this Christ-likeness looks like, and often…

My God, my God why have you forsaken me?

Posted on March 30, 2015June 23, 2016 by Michael Rose

I have been reflecting the Gospel accounts of our Lord hanging on the Roman tree, and I am gripped by the sheer terror of the event. As Jesus hung there in great anguish, He cried out “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) (Mt.27:46) For a long time, I…

Don’t Mind the Mess. Jesus Doesn’t.

Posted on February 16, 2015October 4, 2016 by Michael Rose

I had an aunt who was a neat freak. There’s no other way to put, and she would agree, if through gritted teeth and tight-lipped smile. I have a memory of visiting her home and my wife-to-be mistakenly walking into the freshly vacuumed family room. My aunt shrieked with panic as my betrothed’s socked foot…

Is Spiritual Direction for you? – Learning to Live Deeply

Posted on October 1, 2014November 4, 2020 by Michael Rose

For centuries, people have spent lifetimes on the journey of discovery. Exploring what it is to be human, to discover meaning, purpose, find peace and a deep sense of self and their place in the universe. This exploration has often included thoughts and experiences of God and our relationship to God within our life and…

Hypocrites: Always room for one more!

Posted on May 2, 2014August 22, 2017 by Michael Rose

Is the Church full of hypocrites? I hear it often. It seems like an auto-response for many when describing the Church; “the Church is full of hypocrites.” I usually end up smiling as I remember an old friend when faced with the same response. He would smile and warmly reply “Yes! And there is always…

Being Fully Alive & The Glory of God

Posted on March 20, 2014January 26, 2018 by Michael Rose

“Gloria Dei vivens homo” proclaimed St. Irenaeus, the second century Bishop of Lyons. It translates generously to “the glory of God is men and women who are truly alive.” He, with great enthusiasm, declares that God is glorified by people like you and me who are fully alive human beings – fully enlivened by divine love…

Climbing the Ladder of Real Success

Posted on March 18, 2014September 13, 2016 by Michael Rose

Self-help is all the rage these days. One can assume that the voracious appetite for this kind of material serves to illustrate the perceived need of folks who are working very hard to be better, to improve with a goal to be more successful, and more fulfilled and happy. I can certainly understand this desire….