I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about the church in America recently, especially through this last election season. When I observe the American church, I see some Christian speaking prophetically and faithfully. I see some grasping for political power, justifying whatever means for what is seen as a desirable end. Some go to war with the culture against the radical “other” on the other side. I see others withdraw into Christian “bubbles,” isolated from the culture of the...
Maybe it’s classic American self-importance, but even if you’re not an American, I assume you know we have a big election next week? It’s been divisive and polarizing, to say the least. The rhetoric is heated and scoffing is rampant on both sides. And that’s inside the church (but not mine, necessarily, thankfully)! The most polarizing issues get attention, urgent issues get ignored (school funding reform anyone??!), and issues that shouldn’t be polarizing have been politicized (coronavirus, masks). We’re...
I can’t think on much of anything more astounding than the sovereignty and patience of God in completing His plan for us. “It is finished” was the final cry of Jesus on the cross as He surrendered up His human spirit. Every prophecy was fulfilled. A perfectly righteous life lived. Every sin paid for. The great enemies (Satan, death, and sin) defeated. The veil (symbolic and physical) separating God and man torn (Matthew 27:50-51). If “it is finished,” where...
I don’t have a lot to write about today’s art. It’s enough just to meditate on these words of Jesus and the prophet Isaiah. Jesus was forsaken by the Father for us, so that we would never have to taste forsakenness. The Father turned His back on the Son as He bore our sins, an unimaginable disruption in the Trinity, so that God would never turn His back on us and our sins. Meditate on these words when you...
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and...
I’m turning 39 (wow!) this Saturday and yet it’s my very first time observing the season of Lent. I grew up in a Baptist-ish tradition. My dad was a Southern Baptist pastor who joined the Navy as a chaplain. We attended some Southern Baptist churches growing up, but because we were often part of military chapels, my upbringing was rather ecumenical: “The hanging of the greens,” advent candles, stations of the cross, dunkings, sprinklings, wafers, and loaves of bread–a denominational...
“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'” And he said...
flower image courtesy of Charmingly Saavy “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn...
Do you ever find yourself scrambling to fill a need you can’t even clearly identify? Chocolate! Coffee! Social media feed! Something to distract me! Love me, love me (husband, friends)! Just one more cute shirt! For me these searches quickly turn into discontentment and irritation. Well, that didn’t work . . . on to the next thing. And it’s exhausting. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does...
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