I’m different. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I know we’re all unique. (And since unique means ‘one of a kind’, well then, how can there be a ‘different’—since there is no ‘normal’, nor ‘standard’?) But I’m really different. It’s quite nearly every single thing that could possible be ‘different’. Allow me…
Tag: God’s Kingdom
Allowing For The Process
Sometimes I’m really, really impatient. Also short-sighted, selfish, and in general unwilling to let others—even those I love the most—enjoy the blessings that I have received and thrived upon throughout my life. Yikes. That really doesn’t sound good! But it’s (in a way) really true. God is reminding me recently that he is patient beyond…
Empathy
Earlier this week I told the story here of how one thought led to another, leading me to the interesting conclusion that we are so self-focused that even when we are actually thinking of others we are thinking of self. Incredible, and brilliantly designed by our Creator, I might add. Another thought that has been…
Others
It’s really funny how much we think of ourselves. Even when we’re trying to think of others. This morning I was thinking of Jesus’ words, “Treat other people the way you want to be treated,” and how often I have misrepresented those, even to myself—even though I don’t mean to misrepresent them. I think that…
More of You and of Me Less
There’s a song. It’s a song that I wrote. The words actually seem a bit out of order: “More of you and of me less…” (Sometimes when you write songs, the words fit better when they’re “out of order”.) But the words are still true. (If you have time, or can listen while you read—or…
Trust
A while back, I was having a conversation with a friend about the centrality of trust to Jesus’ teaching in the gospels, and Scripture as a whole. It seems to be a foundational principal of Kingdom thinking. We were discussing the various tenets of faith, and trust, and belief, and as we hashed it out…
Scattering, or Gathering?
Recently I was catching up on some podcast listening and enjoyed hearing Wayne Jacobsen’s response to an article by John Burton. I am unfamiliar with Mr. Burton, but in general, his interpretation of observable trends does seem to differ from mine—at least, his conclusions certainly differ. His article is titled: “You are NOT the church:…
Christianity, or Jesus? (Aren’t They the Same?)
Our family is currently making our way through the book of Luke together. We’re taking our time, but I do enjoy reading in larger chunks, so we will often read what might be the subject of an entire series of sermons in one sitting. Tonight, we read through the fifteenth chapter: the three stories of…
Special Moments
Some days just have those moments. Today has had plenty. (And not all good ones, mind you.) Jen had a super-frustrating day with (she said) every one of the kids, who just wouldn’t listen to her at all. They only wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. Eventually, she just couldn’t take it anymore…
Approval
What if… you never received approval from anyone? Would you still be OK? Could you still be… you, without some form of approval; healthy, or unhealthy? I’m really not sure what answer—if any—would be the “right” answer to those questions. I’m not even sure I have any answer. The fact that we members of the…