At the outset of 2018 I decided to research joy. Here’s an overview of what I have discovered so far: 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 […]
My best friend has insomnia. I have known about insomnia for a long time, but until recently I haven’t mourned with those who mournfully suffer from it. How miserable, not being able to sleep. Like everything in life, I require a lot of help when it comes to lamenting, and praying, for the issues and […]
Early Friday morning neighbors in our community suffered loss from a 2 alarm fire. 15 families lost all their material wealth, and now take up temporary residence at Albemarle Road Middle School. How you can help: The Red Cross is has designated Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church building as their donations facility. These displaced families need: […]
I should not be allowed to visit REI by myself. The impulse to buy is fierce. The eye-catching buffs beckon to me. The chacos call to me. The trucker hats seduce me (even though I am aware of how silly I look under their puffy perch). Even the stickers and patches beseech me to gander. […]
You are obsessed with something, and you always over-spend on your obsession. Examples: golf, your home, food, entertainment, your kids, your image, your hobbies, etc. Once upon a time The Boss of everyone sat down to watch people tithing. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow put in two small copper […]
Yesterday I devoted myself to gathering with a group of humans at a title 1 elementary school in East Charlotte. A man named Jon asked the group, “How do you grow in faith?” A fanatical man named Paul (a guy who wrote a bunch of letters a long time ago) says that faith does not […]
O Christ who supplies my every need, I praise You for all provisions and for the means by which they are provided. For my current employment, in this season of life, I give You thanks. By it, may I meet my own needs and contribute to the needs of others. Let me work and serve […]
I woke up this morning with an urge to grumble against a friend. My flesh was eager to go with the urge, but The Holy Spirit hijacked the impulse and turned it into a burden to intercede. While praying for my friend, God mercifully made me aware of the unhappiness of harboring contempt, and the […]
I am a fan of The Rabbit Room (thank you Corndawg for introducing me to TRR!). Their mission is to make things good, beautiful, and lasting, and I see (and have often been the recipient of) the humans of ECPC striving and struggling in this mission as well. I want to pastor you toward the […]
Good morning faithful blog readers! I hope you are finding it impossible not to be enthralled with your Maker this week; and I hope that you are finding it impossible to avoid repenting of your personal, specific, and substantive errors and blunders …and having thoroughly wrestled against your own selfishness and against the rulers, authorities, […]