thoughts on life and faith
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Psalm 141:3) You ever try to white knuckle your behavior? How did that work out for you? Following Christ gets a bad wrap mostly because it is misinterpreted as rugged individualism. We wrongly believe that our faith rests … Continue reading White Knuckle Religion
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24) If the Lord searched you, what would he find? What a painful thought. It is so easy to hide behind … Continue reading Boast in Weakness
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? . .12 even the darkness is not dark to you (Psalm 139:7, 12) The morning alarm hits me like a jolt of ice water coursing through my constricted veins. Dreams of achievements and worry are now met with realities … Continue reading I Be Not Strong
A common theme in Scripture is the notion that we should not be "anxious" nor shall we "worry". I was reminded of this the other day while listening to the radio. A local news station was running a promo teasing their 11'o clock special on how YOUR kids could be recruited into ISIS. Apparently, this … Continue reading Our God is Fear
"There is only one thing I dread: not to be worthy of my sufferings." Fyodor Dostoevsky It is Monday, and on Monday's we suffer. We long for a kinder gentler weekend colored world of yesterday only to have our dreams dashed by a 9 to 5 burden. I start with a quote from Dostoevsky because I … Continue reading You Are Worthy
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1) Unity is a lost art. With a cloak of social media and bursting self righteousness, many have looked to use criticism as a default. I feel better when you feel worse. The art of disagreeing in love is buried among countless tweets and posts. … Continue reading The Politics of Unity
10 Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10) There is a deep connection between being still, and being useful to God. Working with teens, I have seen an overwhelming busyness that has leaked through from culture and families. This generation has traded in rest for useless busy. Yet it is the call … Continue reading Work Hard at Not Working Hard
I'm not entirely sure that God has a plan for your life. I know this sentiment could be considered blasphemous to many but hear me out. I've seen many live as if life was some sort of rubix cube or riddle. That if they pray enough, read enough, attend church enough, they will somehow unlock … Continue reading Does God Have a Plan?
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever (Psalm 125:1) How do you define sterngth? For many, we live by a Darwinian philosophy of "might makes right". The loudest voice, the speaker with the most gusto, gets celebrated. We are afraid of looking weak or unsure. … Continue reading Break From the Fear Cycle
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