Reality Bites: What We Can Count On

This was originally posted in April.

In Wichita, James Bryan Smith talked about reality. He said that reality is “what you can count on.” He also referenced Dallas Willard’s definition of reality as “what you find out when you find out that you are wrong.”

Are there things that we can count on that are constantly hiding behind our wrong assumptions? I think there are.

In this life, I can count on getting angry. I can count on desiring something that I don’t have. I can count on being disappointed with another person. I can count on making mistakes. I can count on feeling helpless at times. I can count on not having all the answers. I can count on needing help from another person.

3895965016_e627806b46_z (2) photo by: Ricardo Romano

I don’t think anyone can dispute that this is reality for every person who walks the face of the earth. We are limited, frail, and needy people…

View original post 183 more words

June 27, 2017

God is Speaking, Are We Listening?

God is present to his people, he is with them. If there is anything we can learn from the life of Jesus is that God was with him and part of Jesus' mission was to provide a way for God to be with all of his people, even in the difficult times. I have seen... Continue Reading →

June 21, 2017

Are Difficult Times Required In Order To Grow?

Since I have been writing this blog in earnest over the last year, I have chronicled the amazing times, the heartbreaking times, and the really hard times. This past year has presented some of the richest and most profound times with God I have ever experienced. But as soon as I experience a spiritual high,... Continue Reading →

June 14, 2017

Lament: When It Is Not Okay and That Is Okay

Lately, I have found expression for my own frustrations and disappointment in the Psalms of Lament. The thing about these Psalms is that they are honest and emotional while acknowledging the reality of God. I find this an incredibly healthy way of interacting with God. I decided to write my own modern lament patterned after... Continue Reading →

June 12, 2017

The Uniqueness of the Ordinary

No one in our culture likes the ordinary. Nothing ordinary goes viral or gets likes or gets copied. The ordinary is often shunned as if it is wrong or terribly mistaken. The church in American has picked up the aversion to the ordinary. No church highlights their willingness to meet the ordinary people, provide tools... Continue Reading →

June 7, 2017

I Am Not Very Observant

Most of the time, I am too distracted, too busy, too worried, too anxious to notice all the good and meaningful things that are around me. I recently picked up Eugene Peterson's book Practice Resurrection. This book is Peterson's conversation on Ephesians. I had read this book, or portions of it, several years ago, but... Continue Reading →

June 5, 2017

Re-Growth: My Letter To God

I have been writing this blog in earnest for one year now. There are some interesting things we have discussed over this time and hopefully some of you have gotten half as much out my postings as I have in writing them. This week, I will be highlighting some of my favorite posts as a... Continue Reading →

June 2, 2017

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑