Progress To A Transformed Christian Life
2017 was a very difficult year for me and the beginning of 2018 may have been even worse. So many Sundays, I would arrive at our church's worship beat down and jagged and angry. But in the practice of worship and in the participation with the transcendent, I would be reminded of God's glorious riches... Continue Reading →
I remember when I first truly felt the comfort of God. When I really had a sense of his presence. It wasn't during a triumphant worship service or some rousing sermon. I was a middle schooler, laying in my bed with the lights out. I was dreading the next day like I had dreaded many... Continue Reading →
"God wants partners not puppets." Jan Johnson, one of our master teachers at the Apprentice Experience, made this statement in a talk on God's love during Gathering 1. There is nothing about a puppet that is independent or free from the one who controls it. Puppets can't move, talk, or participate in a story without... Continue Reading →
Diet and exercise has only two purposes. 1) Improve heart and overall health. 2) Lose weight. In the same way, reading the Bible has only two purposes. 1) Teach you about how God is with his people. 2) Guide you to a better way of living. If you are reading scripture to win arguments, defend... Continue Reading →
Week 2: Solitude and Silence 3. Read this article on solitude and silence. 4. Embrace pockets of solitude and silence today. Here are some ideas. Choose what works for you. Every time you find a pocket of solitude and silence, ask God to be with you in a special way. Leave the car radio off... Continue Reading →
I am a librarian at a Christian college and this week starts a beginning of the semester ritual in the library. Everyone wants to know if our library has the textbook they need for their class. What has fascinated me about this seasonal phenomenon is that in many cases this will be the only time... Continue Reading →
Here are the names for Jesus used in Revelation 19: Lamb Faithful True Word of God King of Kings Lord of Lords Here are my reflections on these words: Lamb - God's sacrifice on our behalf. Given to death in order to remove the penalty due to us for our sin. Faithful - He is... Continue Reading →
A false narrative about God that James Bryan Smith mentions in his book, "The Good and Beautiful God", is that of a "teddy bear" god. This is a god who is soft on sin and not willing to judge and certainly not likely to send anyone to hell. This false narrative is an overreaction to... Continue Reading →
I have two observations from reading Revelation 8: 1. When the Lamb breaks the seal there is silence in heaven for 30 minutes. Silence is jolting; silence can take your breath away; silence leaves you helpless. I imagine the silence felt was like the silence after Jesus calmed the storm or the silence Elijah heard... Continue Reading →
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