What’s in a name?
However you ‘center’ your faith, center on Jesus.
We call ourselves Jesus-centered because we live life in Christ, just as Christ is in us.
God wanted to make known to them what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him as we admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom, so that we might present everyone perfect in Christ.
(Col. 1:27-28)
We call ourselves Gospel-centered because the Good News is that Jesus is alive and he is King.
Certainly, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Rom. 10:9)
We call ourselves Bible-centered because the scriptures testify about Jesus.
You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them. They testify about me!
(John 5:39)
We call ourselves Word-centered because Jesus is the Living Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made.
(John 1:1-3)
Stations of my heart
A personal, internal reflection that follows the Holy Week calendar.
It’s Holy Week. And as some Christian traditions walk the Stations of the Cross, I am reading through the Easter story and I am recognizing the stations of my heart, through Jesus’ disciples.
Palm Sunday — Station of Awe
Sometimes my heart cries ‘Hosanna in the Highest!’. It bows in awe and adoration of the King of kings. My heart sees Jesus seated on the throne at the right hand of the Father, with all of his majesty and glory on display.
Maundy Thursday — Stations of Weariness, Rebellion, Fear
Like Jesus’ disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, I can become weary and tune out. Like Judas—and for less than thirty pieces of silver—I betray Jesus, who said: ‘The one who has my commands and holds on to them is the one who loves me’. And like Peter, my heart can become fearful to the point of denying my Lord.
Good Friday — Stations of Boldness and Grief
There are times when I, like Simon of Cyrene, take up my cross, being yoked to the instrument of Jesus’ death. Like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, I sometimes offer my resources to honor Jesus. And like these men and the women who witnessed Jesus’ death, I am appalled by what my sin required of ‘He who knew no sin’. At the same time, I am emboldened by the way Jesus faced death and by the gift of his life. There is no greater gift than this: that a man lay down his life for a friend.
Sunday — Stations of Confusion and Doubt, then Worship
Where is the Lord, this conquering King? Why doesn’t he meet my expectations and deliver me from the devastation of Sin? Is Jesus really the one? Is Jesus really alive? First, the women. Then the disciples. And finally Thomas. All struggled with disbelief. But when doubt is swept away by a blessed assurance, I can confess along with Thomas: ‘My Lord and my God’.
Consistently, Jesus pastored his disciples through Holy Week. And he is my pastor wherever my heart happens to be.
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.