I had experienced episodes of shame before, but they never lingered long – never had my bouts been severe or sustained. It’s like when you’re sitting around a fire and an ember lands on your leg, there’s a singe but it dies, it dissipates; but this ember embedded and burned. I don’t think anyone was […]
I suppose you could say I “went through the motions” as a shepherd. I did my duty, I showed up and performed my part, I did my time. That particular day we were near Shechem, and it will come as no surprise to anyone that my ambition was far more aligned with the commerce of […]
The instinct to keep the shameful details of my story hidden was very strong. On some level, the decision to reveal the truth was (and is) a mystery to me. Certainly, there are moments when I wish people didn’t know; there are those who criticize and cast scorn, but even in receiving the contempt of […]
A group of men asked their Maker, “Which one of us is the most spectacular, the most relevant, and the most important?” The Maker put a uncredentialed, unimpressive, feeble child in their midst and said, “Unless you repent, and become like this child, you will never be great.” The Maker went on to explain to […]
I’m reading a book by Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper called, “Faith Mapping,” and on page 162 they share an insight from Dallas Willard …and I think we need to absorb it and ask God to Author and Perfect it in the body of ECPC. In our culture, and among Christians as well, Jesus Christ […]
I’m currently reading a book by Rankin Wilbourne entitled “Union With Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God.” Rankin keeps quoting the early church fathers as a way of calling attention to the emphasis on union with Christ in Scripture and in the souls of those who are obsessed with Scripture. As I absorb […]
Tomorrow Jesus stoops to wash my feet. Friday Jesus drinks the wrath. Jesus is adamant about my atonement and my adoption. Sunday Jesus rises from the grave so that He can eternally enjoy the oneness with me that He purchased 3 days prior. It is true. It is staggering …God loves His enemies and does […]
The older I get the more I see how hard it is for humans to get along. We fought with our siblings and neighborhood kids growing up, and we thought we’d outgrow our self-serving assumptions and temper tantrums …but as adults we are arguably worse! At least when we were kids we genuinely believed we […]
Excepts from “Expertise v. Wisdom” by Denis Haack We live, it seems to me, in a world infatuated with experts, overwhelmed with knowledge and data, and glad it is all only a click or two away. Wisdom, on the other hand, seems to have receded into the background. For most of human history when people […]
“Whether we like it or not, the moment we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are at the same time a member of the church. Even if we do not permit our name to be placed on a church roll, or decline to identify ourselves with a particular congregation. Even if we […]