In the first three parts of this series I did my best to provide a basic biblical answer to the question, "What is a human being?" Because we now live in a world where the statement "I am a man trapped in a woman's body" is seen as coherent and acceptable, it is incumbent upon …
Tag: relationships
Living Now with Eternity in Mind #9: Living as the Community of Jesus
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.For the one who wants to love lifeand to see …
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Trusting God in the Dark
Lord, God of my salvation,I cry out before you day and night.May my prayer reach your presence;listen to my cry.For I have had enough troubles,and my life is near Sheol.I am counted among those going down to the Pit.I am like a man without strength,abandoned among the dead.I am like the slain lying in the …
Prayers for Humble Listening and Wise Speaking
Below are two prayers from this morning’s Lectio 365 devotional. One concerns our need to listen humbly and the other to speak wisely. Both go together. Both speak to the need for relational accountability among Christians. Both highlight how difficult the conversations we have with one another can sometimes be and, therefore, how much grace …
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Carrying One Another’s Burdens
Imagine a man walking a dusty road carrying a very heavy load. He can barely manage it. Without help, he knows he might not make it. He prays for God to help him. Someone comes along and offers to help. The man refuses the help, and says, “The Lord will help me with my load.” …
Having a Christian Witness in a COVID World
I rarely get sick. And thankfully, if I were to catch a common cold, it's unlikely to become a divisive political matter. No one would contest the reality of the symptoms. Nor would anyone argue vehemently with me over the efficacy of Kleenex, rest, and over the counter cold medications. There would be no one …
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The ABCs of Church
There are a lot of churches in our world struggling to survive. Not only have many of us have heard the stats about the decline of attendance in churches, we've experienced it. We're going through it. For a lot of churches and church members the situation is discouraging. But what if it doesn't have to …
My Story Part 16: Meeting My (Eventual) Wife
(Note: My wife interjects occasionally in this post to offer her perspective. Her words are italicized.) I don't know how many times it happened while I was in university, but I would meet a girl I liked and very soon thereafter would find out she was already seeing somebody. Or perhaps, sensing interest on my …
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“Banks”
“I wanna hold you close but never hold you back, just like the banks to the riverAnd if you ever feel like you are not enough, I'm gonna break all your mirrorsI wanna be there when the darkness closes in to make the truth a little clearerI wanna hold you close but never hold you …
Pastors and Friendship
The other day my wife and I were picking up our twin sons from preschool, and we met another father who also has twins. “No one else knows what this is like,” he said. We all agreed. Unless you have twins (or multiples) you have no idea what it’s like. Only by having the same …
grace notes 