Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Learning to Love God by Loving Others

Home
Progressive Christian

2021-05-06T13:16:37-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Crazy About the Children: Mamaw’s Drawers

Last updated on: May 6, 2021 at 1:16 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Mother’s Day Thoughts As Mother’s Day approaches, I have been thinking about my mother and grandmothers. In practical ways they showed all of us children they were crazy about us. Recently, I taught my 5 and 7-year-old granddaughters to sew. They are so excited to learn. When I carry in a big bag of fabric scraps, which some would consider garbage, they start pulling out pieces of printed cotton or filmy tulle, oohing and squealing over them as if they... Read more

General Christian Topics

Kentucky artist

loving children

raising children

2021-05-04T17:34:31-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Beauty, Bad News, and Angels

Last updated on: May 4, 2021 at 5:34 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Beauty and Bad News As the autumn leaves drifted through the crisp, cool air, I drifted into absent-mindedness. Normally, the beauty of the season would have lifted my spirits, but I was struggling with bad news. Cancer had exploded our life again five years after the first diagnosis. The responsibilities of wife, full-time art teacher, mother, and grandmother overwhelmed me, and my husband’s illness crowded my thoughts. I only wanted him to be well. Nothing else mattered much in comparison.... Read more

2021-04-30T16:31:58-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God Brings Good out of Trouble

Last updated on: April 30, 2021 at 4:31 pm By Susan E. Brooks

“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the Lord. —Psalm 12:5 (NIV) The Y2K Scare In December of 1999, experts predicted that computer systems all over the world might crash on New Year’s Day 2000. We had moved to Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world, to do mission work. We didn’t know what would happen at the turn of the century, but it never hurts to... Read more

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

comfort and encouragement

God's Provision

2021-04-27T17:50:54-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New Life in Christ: 3 Areas to Prioritize

Last updated on: April 27, 2021 at 5:50 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Too often Christians are pessimistic, fearful of the future and certain the end of the world is upon us, but as I read the scriptures, I see Jesus as an optimist offering hope for his followers. Yes, Jesus teaches that suffering and tribulation will come, but joy follows. Even when facing his own death, Jesus was focused on resurrection. Jesus’ Focus on New Life He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected... Read more

Following Jesus

spiritual focus

following Jesus

Kentucky artist

plein air painting

2021-09-24T14:04:19-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Whatever You Do, Do It for Love

Last updated on: September 24, 2021 at 2:04 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Jesus, always loving and full of joy, taught and shared his stories lavishly as he feasted with anyone who would welcome him. Extravagantly giving of himself and his time, he never hoarded possessions, stories, encouragement, or energy. Whatever You Do What if this radical, joyful giving is the attitude we need? Dance, bake, teach, design, serve, program, sing, paint, write— fling it all out upon the world, trusting God will provide as we use the gifts He has given. Sounds... Read more

General Christian Topics

spiritual focus

Fear of Rejection

God's Sovereignty

Oil pastel portraits

2021-04-20T14:09:17-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Path to Loving God: 3 Places to Start

Last updated on: April 20, 2021 at 2:09 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Spending time in nature can be a path to loving people and loving God more. Nature as a Path to Loving God Richard Rohr’s meditation for April 19 explains how Bonaventure taught this principle: “Bonaventure taught that to work up to loving God, start with the easier lesson of loving the very humblest and simplest things, [such as a rock or a leaf, then a tree perhaps, then an animal, then humans] and then move up from there.” This struck... Read more

General Christian Topics

spiritual growth

loving God more

plein air painting

2021-04-16T17:36:29-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

First Ramadan Meal in Cyprus

Last updated on: April 16, 2021 at 5:36 pm By Susan E. Brooks

After a few weeks of settling into our new home on the island of Cyprus, we thought it was time to meet our neighbors. It happened to be the month of Ramadan. We resolved to knock on our downstairs neighbors’ door and invite them for a meal one night. Meeting the Neighbors Daughter and mother appeared at the door, smiling and welcoming us. The daughter was translating our English for the mother and the mother’s Turkish back to us. The daughter said she had been... Read more

General Christian Topics

welcoming the stranger

2021-04-12T17:38:11-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Love Instead of Fear

Last updated on: April 12, 2021 at 5:38 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Hemingway in a Muslim University I have a confession to make: I had never read Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea until I began teaching American Literature at a Muslim university on the island of Cyprus in 2009. As I taught the modern American authors, I realized biblical allusions so permeate Western Literature that it is impossible to understand such classics as The Old Man and the Sea without a knowledge of the Bible. It’s true that modern literature can... Read more

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

following Jesus

2021-04-09T15:11:24-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hope In Christ: God’s Future Plans

Last updated on: April 9, 2021 at 3:11 pm By Susan E. Brooks

Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” I love that poem. I picture hope as a tiny bird hiding, barely breathing for fear of predators, but hoping to mount up with wings and soar to safety one day—kind of like all of us during the pandemic. Lots of Hope These days, everyone is throwing around the term “hope,” myself included. I am always full of hope in the spring, and especially this year. I hope everyone will be... Read more

General Christian Topics

downy woodpecker

Kentucky artist

2021-04-06T11:37:54-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Don’t Worry: Lessons From the Birds

Last updated on: April 6, 2021 at 11:37 am By Susan E. Brooks

Sometimes I think creatives like me have a extra talent for worry. Our tendency to be sensitive and dramatic means we can imagine all sorts of scenarios in which the world comes to an end in the worst possible way. Or maybe that’s every one of us, especially now in 2021, in the middle of a pandemic. And it’s tornado season here in Kentucky, and—fill in the blank with your worry of the day. Yet Jesus said in Matt. 6:26-34,... Read more

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

«
4
5
6
7
8
»

Follow Us!

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In which city did David reign seven years before becoming king over all Israel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jerusalem Hebron Bethlehem Shechem

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Discipleship dreams and Goals emotional health Following Jesus General Christian Topics God's Love Grace Hearing God identity in Christ Marriage prayer Raising Children Relationships and family sacrificial love Social Justice spiritual focus spiritual growth Trusting God Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Brandy Anderson, Team Weird, and Transcending Church

I met author Brandy Anderson on Heretic Happy Hour, when podcaster Keith...

Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote:...

The Bible offers strong support for the sacred duty to vote. Here...

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos