thoughts on life and faith
"Jesus Christ knew the only way to the crown was through the cross. The only way to resurrection was through death." - Timothy Keller Jesus The King This past week I spent some time in Mark 5. In this interesting and heartbreaking passage, Jesus is confronted with the urgency of life and death, yet stands patient and … Continue reading The Infuriating Timing of God
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the lord in the land of the living! 14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14) Faith takes courage. To believe something as utterly ridiculous as Christ and the Bible takes an incredible amount of steel in … Continue reading The Courage of the Ridiculous
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)" "You never seem happy" the acutely honest barista said perceptively. Like a bucket of ice water, this hurt as much as it jolted me back to life. Granted, she said this in the dead of morning prior to a caffeine rush. I like … Continue reading Carpe Diem and the Barista
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) This verse is offensive. It stops just short of a Hallmark greeting or a yellowing "Hang In There!" poster in a decaying library. I have been thinking a lot about tragedy. The … Continue reading The Offensive Tragedy of Christ
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6) Romans 8 is … Continue reading Advice From Darwin
If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. . . 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-32, 36) There has always been a deep urge in me to bolt. It is a top fear of mine to … Continue reading Freedom In Traffic
"The culture says you have to be free from any obligation to really be free. The modern view of freedom is freedom from. It's negative: freedom from any obligation, freedom from anybody telling me how I have to live my life. The biblical view is a richer view of freedom. It's the freedom of—the freedom of … Continue reading The Freedom to Love
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. (Psalm 20:7-8) There are tons of things we trust in daily. It takes incredible faith to simply walk out the front door in the morning - a faith that things … Continue reading Trust, Politics, and Bigfoot
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through … Continue reading The Dance of a Higher Love
"It is my belief no man ever understands quite his own artful dodges to escape from the grim shadow of self-knowledge" - Joseph Conrad The Enneagram wrecks people. At least that's what I'm told. A process of spiritual self discovery, it challenges you by figuring out how you fit into nine different personality types. From … Continue reading Shrek, Oprah, and Getting to Know Yourself
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