I want to preface this by saying the last thing I want to do is display phylacteries. I hesitated to post photos of my own annotations because I’m afraid the whole “look at the notes in my Bible” thing looks pretentious and pharisaical. But it gives a glimpse perhaps of my own brokenness and wrestling,…
On the Betrayal of One’s Brother Through “Minding One’s Own Business”
"It's not my business," Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly." (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, p. 537) If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold…
The Journey: Bits and Pieces on Forgiveness, Conflict, and Justice
Below are some fragments of thoughts the past several months, since about April, many incubating earlier. I may share more snippets later that focus more on perseverance and God’s sovereignty through pain and darkness. But these musings center more around forgiveness, justice, and God’s sovereignty. Some thoughts are my own, others are quotes that…
12 Authors Whose Stories I Find Myself Revisiting Again and Again
All of these works I find true and beautiful. Each inspire me in different ways. Some resonate with my deepest longings or sooth my deepest wounds. Others seem to pull me out of myself, while others warm my soul with memory.
A Reminder
Those whose love and approval are conditional...do not define me. Those who genuinely misunderstand me, and those who do so willfully...do not define me. Those who find me intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually deficient, whether they are right or not...these do not define me. Those who condescend, who pontificate without listening, correct and lecture…
Reflection on the Woman at the Well
Lately I’ve thought about that process more—how she became a loner.
Fragments on Memory-Ours and God’s (or “God Sees. God Hears.”)
I've needed so much hope, and honestly as someone who has struggled with depression for years and then the health issues of the past few months, it's been quite hard. Some of my biggest fears are being forgotten or not believed, of having no voice or significance, of being disposable. That may be rather self-absorbed, but God knows we are dust, and His promises assure us of His faithfulness. The past few months, years really, but especially the past few months have been filled with reminders of Who He Is, that He is the only God, His name is Jealous, and there is no other Savior. He will fight for me (though not always in the way I want). It is as if anything that is not Him, even good things, is being stripped away.
The Truest Things I Know…
A few days ago, I remembered that about 2,000 years ago the people who said they followed God were divided into multiple religious and political factions. (Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes; Jews, Samaritans, Romans--and I know I'm leaving lots of people out.) Whatever each group was right about or wrong about, it was serious, painful business. Then God came and dwelt among them and lovingly blew all of their ideas to bits... The truest things I know about Trump or Biden or Pence or Harris (listed first chronologically, then by president-vice president) are the truest things I know about the people I work with, my students, the guy sitting in the opposite pew, the irritating person standing in the middle of the aisle at Wal-Mart sharing their personal business over the phone so loud you can hear them three aisles over, my family, my friends, my neighbors, myself...
Found a date–with Rich Mullins (No, I didn’t break up with Jack or Tollers. This is called the communion of the saints.)
Image taken from firstthings.com Last night I finished Andrew Peterson's Adorning the Dark (which I encourage you to read), and he's as love-struck with Rich Mullins as I've been with C.S. Lewis. I'm pretty he sure mentions the guy at least once in every chapter, just like I've probably mentioned Lewis in most of my…
July Meditations for December
I mentioned earlier in the year that sometimes I go through old journal entries and find prayers and words that I'm not not sure how I had the strength to say then and certainly don't as I read them--but I know they are true and the Lord tells us to remember past redemptions. Here is…
Votary of the Blue Flower 