discipleship
The Myth of Autonomy
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. — Psalms 100:3 Read more
discipleship
Exposing My Weakness
(Longer-than-normal post warning) A week ago I was in the mountains outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico at a Student Life camp with hundreds of teens and their adult leaders. The topography required over 11,000 steps per day with an average of 8 floors of climbing at 7000′. Two weeks Read more
discipleship
Not Flesh and Blood
It has been pretty tough around here trying to walk in the footsteps of Jesus when the everyday stuff of life includes: — Physical challenges: Near 100° temperatures at the time when trees need the hard ground around them tilled up so they can receive precious, fruit-producing nutrients; minor surgeries Read more
discipleship
Choices in an Impossible Situation
The walls were thick and high. The conquest insurmountable. The opposition large and fierce. The defenses intractable. Sound familiar? I could be talking about a strong-willed toddler or teenager, or a persistent sinful thought pattern. I might be talking about a job God has called me to do, about the Read more
discipleship
Which Law?
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-13 I ran across this in my reading today. Talk about a puzzle! Judged Read more
Creativity
You’ve Got Mail!
Dear Child, I am sending this so that you know some things for certain. I have always loved you… from the endless un-time before the earth first spun on its axis you have been in my heart. The intricate design according to which you were woven in the mysterious semi-dark Read more
discipleship
More About Ups and Downs
After last week’s blog, I had a number of inquiries regarding my welfare. So much so that I had to re-read the post to make sure of what I had said. Let me say again that in all our difficulties, God is masterfully at work! He does not ever, anywhere Read more
discipleship
Laying Down to Build Up
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16 …Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. – Psalm 79:2b Following Jesus every day in the everyday means He Read more
discipleship
The Rise and Fall of the…Every Empire
I have been reading the book of Daniel lately. Fascinating stuff! Even if you are not a history buff, you have probably heard the basic Sunday-school stories, often told with Daniel as the hero and main character of the stories, and the “lesson” of most of them being: If you Read more
Biography
Fig Leaves
Knowing that our God is intimately aware and knowledgeable of all our inner thoughts as well as outer deeds can be a reason to clothe ourselves in fig leaves and hide in the bushes, or it can be the best reason to run to Him with our hearts, twisted and Read more