An Ocean of Love
We all sail on an ocean of Love. It is a place of divine energy; love goes out from God, because He is Love. To some, it is undetected. To many, it is obvious. Creation declares it. Christ demonstrated it. It flows by human kindness and acts of compassion; it is detected from the
Subtle Choices
We can be choosing when we don’t realize that we are choosing. Sometimes it is a matter of going back and thinking of things I should have released a long time ago. Even a choice to remain neutral from two opposing opinions is a choice. The impulse to grab a snack or a shiny
The Butterfly Effect
I am fascinated by the butterfly effect. This is “the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere” (Wikipedia). It can be a ripple effect, but it can stir up a great storm. It has the potential for great harm or great good. It is truer than
Losing Your Way
How do you lose your way? Turn to your own way. Follow any path that presents itself to you. Choose ease and comfort; neglect truth and justice. Follow impulses, appetites and peers. Be swept along by the streams of the surrounding culture. Reject discipline. Neglect the wisdom of those who have gone before.
Without Money
Simon the magician said, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this
Un-borrowable
“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (Matthew 25:8 ESV. There are some things that you cannot borrow. You cannot borrow character from another. You can ride the coattails of other people, but in the end you develop your character and build
Connected to the Vine
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart
What More?
“What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? (Isaiah 5:4 ESV). God’s vineyard, Israel, had backslidden; instead of producing sweet grapes of righteousness and justice they were producing wild grapes of injustice
From Glory to Glory
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB). We are in a process of growth that is lifelong; any growth we have is by
Speculate or Help
“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1-3
Reversing Chaos
In Jewish thought the sea represented chaos. Before the creation act there were turbulent chaotic waters. The Spirit brooded over the waters of chaos and birthed a good creation. Because of the violence and wickedness of man the waters of chaos came back in the great flood. One of the sad things the OT
Your Theological Statement
The actions of Christians become theological statements about our God. When we align our lives with the teachings of Jesus, we become ambassadors, reconcilers, healers and peacemakers whose lives represent God in winsome ways. When we do not align our lives with the teachings of Jesus, the actions flowing out of that are messages
On Being Human
The inhumanity of humans to other humans cuts away not only at civilization but at the core of being human. Psalm 8 begins and ends with the glory of God, but in between is the glory with which God has crowned humans. We have the stamp of God on the very essence of our
Do Good
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38 ESV). The Holy Spirit in Jesus was the source of His doing good. It is to be so with us.
His Grace Is Enough
“My Grace is enough for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is easy to forget, but it is true. His supply is boundless; His reservoirs are inexhaustible. He keeps on giving. Draw one more drink from the Spring. When you think you can’t go on; take one more step. To keep on keeping on can
It is a Journey
We have not arrived yet; it is a journey. We are formed by how we travel it. We travel this way while looking to Jesus, while being in relationship with Him as our traveling companion. He is our goal, our mentor and our strength. He has put His Spirit in us to enable our
Reflecting on My Life
Did I love the people who crossed the path of my life? Did I go out of the way to lend a helping hand? Did I look past flaws to love? Did I see Jesus in the faces of the last and the least? Did I come to love out of obedience to Jesus,
Representing Christ
We are made in God’s image to accurately represent Him before the world. We must have that image restored and refined by the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. Our failure at this is not just a failure at spiritual formation; it is a failure of mission. Our job in the world is to
What Comes Out
Jesus was dealing with people who were trying to avoid contaminating themselves by what they were eating, i.e., what they were taking in. He concludes His speech on this subject by saying, “All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” The human heart is desperately wicked and we are all
Healing Wounds
Isaiah said, “With His wounds we are healed.” How can His hurt bring about our healing? Profound mystery! Yet, it does! The crushing of Jesus yields the sweet fragrance of the Rose. The Father chose to use His own wounded-ness to heal the world. We provide comfort and healing to others by our own
Intercessory Prayer
“Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34 ESV). To be an intercessor is to be Christlike. Care enough to truly pray for those in need; stand for them before our loving Father. Christ intercedes!
The Unchanging Christ
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8 (ESV). His yesterday was when He walked this earth; His yesterday was before the foundation of the world. When all around us is shaking, Jesus remains our firm Foundation. When life around us is unstable, we flee to the stable Rock. Today
Our Limitations
The understanding of a child is not the same as an adult. The comprehension of the untrained is not the same as the ones who have been taught. The development of the novice is not the same as the accomplished. The catechumen is not nearly so schooled as the theologian. The maturity of
Suffering and Christ
The “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53, until Messiah arrived, was understood to be Israel as a whole. Christians saw that the Christ and the Suffering Servant were one and the same Person. God did not sit above the suffering of humanity, but entered it by incarnation. By suffering, He sanctified suffering. We are invited