Evangelism

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Notes From Gene’s Bio

by Tyler Dirks

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I’m listening to Eugene Peterson’s authorized biography. Here are some paraphrased excerpts from the book: The temptation to be “an expert” is relentless. He began to notice a latent messianic complex, where he was drawn to locate the emotional problems of people and then “FIX THEM EFFICIENTLY.” […]

What’s Rule Number One?

by Tyler Dirks

What’s rule number one? Remember that scene in the movie Peanut Butter Falcon when Tyler tells Zak, “Rule number one is that you can’t slow me down. So what I says go; when I say ‘jump’ you say ‘how high’. …Rule number one, don’t slow me down! Rule number two, I’m in charge AND you’re […]

Rightly Handling The Word of Truth

by Tyler Dirks

When you read the following sentence WHO COMES TO MIND? “Present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” A PhD theologian cannot be your primary paradigm. A renowned Christian author cannot be your primary paradigm. A decorous holy man cannot be […]

I Wish You Would Bear With Me in a Little Foolishness

by Tyler Dirks

“I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness.” – Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) Here are some more quotations from Small (aka Paul)… “I feel a divine jealousy for you.” “I betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” “If someone offers y’all a different gospel […]

Boldness

by Tyler Dirks

Here’s a recent text exchange with a good friend of mine… My Friend: Does a lack of persecution in one’s life mean there is a lack of boldness for the gospel? Me: I’d say that boldness (as embodied by Jesus of Nazareth) is primarily a radical commitment to be weak, vulnerable, and ‘powerless.’ Boldness is […]

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 […]

The Best Commentaries

by Tyler Dirks

I’m reading through 1 & 2 Chronicles these days, and concomitantly I found myself listening to an audiobook entitled “The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino” by Simon Crittle. And I realized something… This macabre book about the mafia is thoroughly helping me understand the dynamics, and emphatic ghastliness, displayed by God […]