church
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leaving (part 1)
I’ve been asking the question: “Who am I when I leave?” Who are we when we leave? Who are you when you leave? — Who we once were has bearing on who we are now. We cannot entirely disentangle from our past; it is intrinsically linked to our present. Who we are now is continually Continue reading
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in the wild
I sat in my truck watching the furious surf, as if seeking revenge; the gray-white sea bled into the gray-white sky. I thought, “Sometimes you have to walk headlong into the wind and rain. Don’t run from it; run into it.” So I got out of my truck and walked down onto the beach, heading Continue reading
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which God is it? (part 2)
The denial of contradictions (within our experience, the Bible, spiritual community, etc) can produce hesitant, fearful, uncertain, even spiritually neurotic Christians. We hear opposing stories of the same God and are expected to embrace them without doubt or trepidation. “Just believe” is the catch all phrase, the simple answer to complicated questions. The story of Continue reading
bible, Christianity, church, contradiction, doubts, Faith, fringes, God, Grace, hope, Jesus, love, questions, reflections, religion, spirituality, Trust, worship -
guilt
Ever since childhood, there’s often been a subtly pervasive voice in the background saying, “You’re not good enough, you’re not doing enough, you’re not enough as you are.” Have you heard it? This was not stated by anyone explicitly, but was sometimes implied within spiritual environments I participated in and observed. Guilt. As easy as Continue reading
authenticity, Christianity, church, Faith, God, honesty, hope, Jesus, love, prayer, reflections, religion, spirituality, Trust, worship -
(re)movement
As I have pulled back on my participation in familiar spiritual environments, as I have ceased the once familiar spirituality of my history and context, I find that I still encounter God in the midst of (re)movement. I do not speak, but stay silent; I do not move, but am still; I do not ask, Continue reading
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Week 26: sometimes it’s time to stop
The next conference. The next altar call. The next church or prayer service. The next revival meeting. The next house of prayer set. The next sermon. The next book. The next revelation. The next breakthrough. The next experience. The next prophecy. The next word from God. I know someone will be able to relate. I Continue reading
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Week 17: “all about the dude”
“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, Continue reading
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The resurrected life, pt. II: The inspiration to live
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory … And (having) put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 