thoughts on life and faith
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
"Sooner or later we must distinguish between what we are not and what we are. We must accept the fact that we are not what we would like to be. We must cast off our false, exterior self like the cheap and showy garment that it is. We must find our real self, in all … Continue reading You Are Not Yourself
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. . . . 13 but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life (Romans 6:6, 13) How we handle regret is a funny … Continue reading Live From Resurrection Not Regret
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:2-3) As a student ministry, we have been talking to the teens about the power behind their words. Life in school is rough. Bullies, insecurities, and brokenness abound within … Continue reading The Heart Behind Your Words
Recently I read an interview with the widow of Robin Williams. She described the months leading up to the actor's suicide, caused by his diagnosis of Lewy Body Disease (LBD) and his long battle with depression. She detailed his fight with all of this in a powerful essay in which she called his illness as a "terrorist … Continue reading The Terrorist and Our Rescue
There ain't no man can save me There ain't no man can enslave me Ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in There ain't nobody here who can cause me pain or raise my fear ("Ain't No Man" Avett Brothers) For the better part of my year, I have … Continue reading Not Impressed
Matt simon blog 