I have always been aware of the “now and not yet” of following Jesus. I am reminded that it’s okay to still feel unsettled, somewhat incomplete, and a little discontent; because things are not (yet) as they should be. Everyone knows this. Some recognize it more than others. It is something of a prophetic understanding—those… Read More Week 20: “now and not yet”
I grew up hearing some of the following phrases: make sure you don’t “backslide”; don’t be “deceived”; make sure not to “fall away”; be careful not to “lose your faith.” Do I believe these can actually happen to someone? In a sense, I actually do. Do I think they’re helpful or should be a focal… Read More Week 19: when “behind” is “ahead”
Someone recently asked me: “What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to leave your mark upon the world?” I was a little caught off guard. I’d never really been asked that question, and I’ve honestly never pondered it very extensively. I just read (or rather, listened to) “The Death of… Read More Week 18: life, death, and legacy (in “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”)
“I thought it was all about the f*cking dude?” “It should be,” I replied. This passing comment had followed an initial question: “Do churches fight with each other?” “Mmm, not usually. But sometimes, yeah, churches and denominations find things to fight about.” His comment struck me. Didn’t he put the truth in the most explicit,… Read More Week 17: “all about the dude”
April 16, 2009. Chennai, India. I was on an “around the world” trip with my good friend that would last for over nine months. In Chennai, we were spending some time with local ministries and organizations, including one that helped local Indians who suffered from AIDS (children and adults). On this specific day, we went… Read More Week 16: India & AIDS
Imagine a female slave in the 20th century B.C. who, at the command of her mistress, marries and sleeps with her mistress’s husband. Who, upon consequently conceiving his child, is then constantly oppressed by her mistress, though the slave is herself not entirely innocent in her pride. When the father of her child remains unconcerned… Read More Week 15: seen
In a film I recently watched, there was a quote that resonated with me, especially during this time of uncertainty. “Faith is 24 hours of doubt and one minute of hope.” For everything we give, wait and hope for in faith, perhaps we see little immediate reward. In all of the current fear, anxiety and… Read More Week 14: (un)certain
My heart is always filled with awe and wonder on nights such as these. I only invite others—not to my table with anything I can provide—to his table, the one with the remedy for the maladies of our hearts. He who is himself the remedy. My only hope is to create a space where he… Read More Week 13: the table (part 2)
“I will come back every f*cking week for the rest of my f*cking life whenever I’m in this town,” he said as he wiped tears from his face. The very best compliment I could have ever received. My new friend “T” started shedding tears as I ended the night in prayer. I had shared the… Read More Week 12: the table (part 1)
Stillness, silence, and waiting are acts of faith. They are a willingness to face the nothingness, the emptiness, the void. They authenticate a stark willingness to accept the possibility of hearing nothing, receiving no answers, gaining no direction. Sometimes (or often), it is silence for silence, darkness for darkness. But this is where we discover… Read More Week 11: silence
