Joy Abides

Joy is no slave. Joy stands outside of that list, for it is hidden in what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. Joy abides. Joy looks at the ebb and flow of life and says, “But God.”

missional mulch

I'm grateful to have gotten to know this bunch of folks a lot better - the kind of bonding that occurs when you all look and smell disgusting. It was a treat to see how much you can get done when people work well together, and work hard. My farmer's tan is now several shades darker, even if I never did get a photo-op with a small dark child to post on my Facebook so that everyone would know I did a missions trip.

An Anti-War Gem from "Gone With the Wind"

Especially in today’s climate where we seem to be increasingly okay with war, Rhett Butler’s words are music to the ears. It always strikes me as odd that those who are so adamant about being duped by the government never stop to think that the government could be duping them when it comes to war. If you listen to the rhetoric about Israel then it is so clear the way that we attempt to make war sacred in our own day as well.

A Healthy Understanding of Sin

A healthy understanding of sin recognizes it's dominion over everything that does not belong to Christ. Among those who belong to Christ sin no longer has dominion. It has been put to shame. It has been mocked and ridiculed on the stage of redemptive history. Sanctification lives in this reality.

How to Know You've Been Called To Ministry

As American individualist we all too often attempt to figure out God’s will for us apart from the means that God has provided for us, namely, the church. This is especially true when it comes to the call into ministry. American Christians have taken something that should be bound up in the church and subjected it, almost entirely, to the subjective feelings of individuals.

God's Holy Deception

Does God lie? Does He participate in deception? Does He endorse deception? These are important questions that Christians have discussed throughout church history. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I do think the Scriptures present a more convoluted answer than we would like to believe.

Profiling Like a Boss

You are in no position of authority or protection whatsoever. There was no reason for you to profile me. This added layer of self-ordained patriotic protection is simply ridiculous. I am glad that my children were not old enough to realize that their father was being profiled for having long hair and a long beard.