Curtis Shelburne

For everything there is a season ...

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I love seasons. And I’m thankful indeed to live in a place where we really have them. I like summer, though it is not my favorite. The best thing about summer, I think, is that since kids and teachers have at least a few weeks off, life even f... Full story

Future of ministry now

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On my desk for months has been a little book I’ve finally opened. It has been eye-opening. In the Name of Jesus was written by priest, professor, and writer Henri Nouwen and includes his “Reflections on Christian Leadership.” Ori... Full story

Grandchildren bring lessons in love

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Tree Swing Plans and God’s Plan for Love Given the rare opportunity, I can go a long time without answering a phone of any kind and be just fine. In fact, one of the things I like about motorcycles is that talking on a phone on one is almost i... Full story

God truly deserving of our trust

Curtis Shelburne

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Who Do You Really Trust? By Curtis K. Shelburne   I’m not sure how far we should trust polls, but I wonder what the answer would be if anybody polled the American public on this question: With regard to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, ... Full story

Ten rules to a good, clean fight

Curtis Shelburne

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Mark it down: all couples sometimes fight. If it makes you feel better to hedge, make that “All couples sometimes have serious and somewhat warm discussions.” That is nothing but normal, and may even be healthy—vastly healthier tha... Full story

Enjoying God's gifts in moderation key to honoring Him

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“I’m in a twelve-step program for recovering ascetics,” I explained to my missionary nephew. I knew he’d “get” it. More than a little conversant in theology and church history, Ian had joined his dad and uncles la... Full story

Salvation not a bureaucracy

Curtis Shelburne

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God’s grace is wonderful. But if we think grace is easy, we need to think some more. One of Jesus’ most famous stories was told in response to a religious lawyer’s question: “Teacher, who is my neighbor?” The question ... Full story

Our possessions not really 'ours'

Curtis Shelburne

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We humans are so full of ourselves. We incessantly strut and preen, spout and sputter, spew and spray forth all manner of self-important nonsense, and the Father hearing his kids so solemnly hold forth must laugh. One day the curtain will be pulled ... Full story

Christians should look at faith with a larger lens

Curtis Shelburne

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 I wonder: Does almost everyone walk around with some sort of song playing in their head during their day, or does that just go on in the heads of lovers of music? The former, I think. We just heard the song on the radio, we sang the hymn at ch... Full story

Freedom comes at cost

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Freedom is never free. As Americans are about to celebrate another national birthday, it’s good to think about the nature of freedom. Wrapped around all of our thoughts concerning the Fourth of July are, I hope, thoughts concerning the price t... Full story

Mind better occupied with God than with fear

Curtis Shelburne

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Recently I decided that it might be interesting to start making a list—a list of the things the media tell us we should be afraid of. If you focused just on the morning shows in a two-week period, I’m betting you’d find that on eve... Full story

God is a source of joy

By Curtis K. Shelburne

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Bruce Larson tells of a conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. As the story goes, people were given helium-filled balloons and told to hold them until a time came in the service when they experienced joy in their hearts. At that point, they co... Full story

Higher education should be balanced with 'lower' education

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Local columnist

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Higher education. That’s what we tend to call college and graduate school. Fine. Some important things can certainly be learned there. But the older I get, the more I am of the opinion that higher education ought to be balanced regularly with ... Full story

Real fulfillment found in God

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Religion columnist

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One of the best books I’ve read in a long time centers on one of the best stories of all time. The story is Jesus’ “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” and the book, which helped me see that great parable more clearly than ever befo... Full story

God makes all things new

By Curtis K. Shelburne: Local columnist

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Christians serve a God who is making “all things new.” In the “Revelation,” the Apostle John contrasts the new heaven and the new earth with the old heaven and old earth that, he says, will pass away. He sees a new city, the ... Full story

'Curtis Shelburne' Archive