Awhile back I was having lunch with a friend. In the course of our conversation my friend mentioned that his dad would occasionally invite him to have breakfast in order to simply and sincerely listen to what he wanted to share. During these breakfast meetings nothing was out of bounds. Even if my friend’s thoughts […]
I have been pondering engrossment this week. We are all engrossed… In something. I was chatting with my friend Jordan a couple of days ago, and we were persuaded that it is best to be engrossed with the scandalous and mystical tales of God’s Word. To feel like you MUST imaginatively inhabit God’s active and […]
Think of a leader. Someone you actually know. Like a teacher. A principal. An elder in your church. A police officer. A fireman. A business owner. A mentor. A parent. An upstanding citizen in your neighborhood. Think about their family. Think about their spouse. Now, ask yourself, do they have another spouse ? Do they […]
Ordained leaders should joyfully embody the emphasis of 2 Corinthians 8:1-11; AND they should PUT POSITIVE PRESSURE on all the diákonos/followers of Jesus to SERVE as unordained / unofficial / informal INITIATIVE-TAKERS and bonafide laborers. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-11, the Apostle (i.e. ordained leader) Paul is NOT primarily taking responsibility for the work that needs […]
You are a single mother living in destitution. A homeless clairvoyant shows up at your front door. The man says that God told him that you were supposed to feed him. You inform the homeless man that you have no food. All you have is a ½ cup of flour, and maybe 3 ounces of […]
I just finished listening to “A Gentleman In Moscow” last week. Then, this week, my buddy mentioned the quote below from “A Gentleman In Moscow“. So I take it as a sign that I’m supposed to copy and paste the quote on the ECPC blog —> The Confederacy of the Humbled is a close-knit brotherhood […]
We have received many inquiries about the letters, and we understand why people are upset. We agree that much of the language in the letters feels harsh, and the content is inescapably painful. Many people have observed the glaring and gross lack of propriety and civility in the author’s use of words like “mutilate” and […]
I will offer one caveat (though God very often offers no caveats). Admittedly, I offer this caveat because I am insecure (but God is not insecure, and therefore He offers far fewer caveats). I offer this caveat because I am afraid to make you uncomfortable (God is not afraid to make you uncomfortable, hence He […]
Read 2 Kings 2:23-25. Then imagine asking Jesus of Nazareth, “What’s your interpretation and application of this anecdote?” (Luke 2:46-47; 24:27). ::: Elisha was traveling to the house of God He encountered a jeering small boy squad 42 they numbered Then the She-bears lumbered And upon the small boys they gnawed A limerick based on […]
“It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final break-through to fellowship does not occur, because, though they have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners. […]