Matthew 11

The psalms of ascent press hard against the norms of our bootstrap culture.

“Anyone who thinks he knows the orthodox consensus can always be shown to be wrong,” says David Bentley Hart.

It’s hard to do alone.

There is a difference between work-life balance and sabbath living.

John the Baptist is not sure if Jesus is very Christlike.

Perhaps this verse has been lifted out of its context by design.

This time of year, our inner landscapes can seem as bleak as the outer ones.

In his response to John, Jesus speaks of hope in the present tense.

Rest is often viewed as a privilege rather than a necessity.

I would have been embarrassed, downright ashamed to be associated with gluttons, drunkards, and sinners.

Jesus' ministry is not what John the Baptist expected it to be.

So it turns out that losing is good for you after all. According to social scientists who study these things, all those participation trophies kids receive for just showing up are not inspiring them to succeed. Instead, the ceaseless praise only protects kids from failure—so that once it inevitably appears, they are so demoralized that the next time it comes close they choose cheating rather than risk failing again.

The gospel has always understood the critical importance of failure in the path to true life.

Before his questioning of the doctrine of hell sparked such a (ahem) firestorm, Rob Bell wrote in Velvet Elvis a chapter about yokes.

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!" says the bold, insensitive prophet.