Christian Living

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Christmas Time Is Here!

by Tyler Dirks

It’s Christmas time. So of course we must ponder Christ’s Mass [the word “Mass” comes from the Latin word, ” Missa,” meaning “Go! You are sent!”]. So what was The Christ SENT to accomplish? Christ’s mission was to (a) infinitely & perfectly atone for evil, treacherous, criminals; and (b) to achieve perfection on their behalf […]

GKC Quotes

by Tyler Dirks

Our good friend Neil Gaiman recently pointed out, “Behind every Chesterton sentence there is someone painting with words, and it seems to me that at the end of any particularly good sentence or any perfectly-put paradox, you can hear the author, somewhere behind the scenes, giggling with delight.” Neil’s observation prompted me to explore anew […]

Egypt …God’s People!

by Tyler Dirks

Today, during my morning meeting with The Boss, He mentioned Egypt. At first He said some inauspicious stuff like, “I have mingled within Egypt a spirit of confusion. Egypt’s princes are utterly foolish; and the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. Egypt’s ‘wise men’ will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a […]

The Purchased & Plundered Self

by Tyler Dirks

PROTECTING SELF As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down […]

Book Rec.

by Tyler Dirks

I was lead climbing with AK 2 weeks ago and he asked me, “Have you read the book How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key?” I said, “Luke Fawcett told me about HSC awhile back, and I devoured two of his memoirs! I especially enjoyed The World’s Largest Man (the memoir about his dad). […]

Eat This Book

by Tyler Dirks

I was recently chatting with Maria Frey about our buddy Eugene. We were specifically talking about Eugene’s good pastoral work in leading us to personally wrestle with God’s Word by forcing ourselves to paraphrase what God has told us (putting it into our own words) not in order to change what God said to accommodate […]

How Joy Works

by Tyler Dirks

Joy comes from looking at Jesus [Looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. *Hebrews 12:2]Joy comes from desperately depending upon Jesus [For thus says the […]

Painstaking Pleasure of People

by Tyler Dirks

People are like bouldering problems (i.e. the pleasure to be found in persons and community is discovered via painstaking perseverance, patient problem-solving, and joyfully partnering with others [2 Corinthians 1:24]). Some bouldering problems I can interact with and enjoy easily, immediately, and progressively. Like “The Blatant Secret” at Love Valley (if you’re interested in knowing […]

Complaining To Jesus

by Tyler Dirks

Once upon a time a dude came to Jesus to have Him settle an inheritance dispute with his brother. Of course we’re all assuming that Jesus will weigh-in on this matter! Of course Jesus will stop whatever else He is doing, and make this His top priority! Because this is a very big deal! A […]