faith (Christian living)

Category

Common sense Christianity

For years, decades, perhaps even centuries, common sense has been understood and agreed upon by the majority of people on the planet - despite ideological and even religious differences, people agreed on certain things that seemed illogical to deny. Elders should be respected, children are to be taken care of and valued, its better to be kind to someone than to shame them, things are either true, or false; these things and many more like them were just “known” and…

Jesus 2020

I don’t do yard signs. It’s not because I don’t like drawing the attention of others, or because I’m against flair - rather, I’m all about it. All you’d have to do to know I’m serious, is to see me playing a sport or riding my bicycle. I’m the one wearing the gaudiest thing you’ve ever seen. No, the reason I don’t do yard signs is because I’m perhaps the least political person you’ve ever met, and I have found…

He can still hear them…

He could still hear them. The noises. They were unlike anything he had ever experienced before.  The laughs. They had mocked Him. “Come down from there. Save yourself. Save us! Aren’t you the King of Jews?” Slanderous and hate filled. Their voices bellowed and their stomachs jostled. Didn’t they know who He was? Didn’t they understand what they were doing? What a mistake they were making? Couldn’t they see He hadn’t done anything wrong? Why would they mock Him like…

And they ran…

The table was set. When they entered the room everything was laid in its place and ready for the meal. Peter and John had done a masterful job. So far today had been calmer, and without much commotion. A simple sermon in the city, and catching up with old friends. After the last few days, it was a welcome relief. Now there would be a meal together - perhaps things were finally going to get back to normal.  John and…

Telling stories

It was just another story. Of this Peter was forcing himself to be sure. Just like all the others ones he’d heard Jesus tell over the three years they had been together. Another “story” about the kingdom of God that was difficult to comprehend. It couldn’t possibly mean what it seemed to at first glance. Surely Jesus wasn’t ACTUALLY saying that this would be the end. His emotions were still running high from the whole table incident yesterday, and things…

My how the tables have turned

They’ve never seen him like this. So angry and out of control. Yesterday, everyone was happy. They loved Him and He loved them. There was a parade - and the palm branches - heck even that stinking donkey seemed to have a smile on its face. And yet, He seemed a bit “out of sorts.” Today is another story. It’s “out of sorts” in overdrive. And to be honest they’re all a little scared.  “I’ve never even seen Him upset…

Entrances are important (Palm Sunday)

Entrances are important. People spend exorbitant amounts of time planning how they will enter a room, come out onto the stage, or walk up to the plate. The music, the mood, the magic that surrounds and entrance has the power to change everything that happens after it. The tension swells. The crowd goes wild. The drop hits. Everything culminates in that one specific and perfectly planned moment - and let the party begin. Entrances are important.  This is not that.…

Opening Day

Today was opening day. A new beginning. If you haven’t met me in person, or perhaps the last time we spoke was when I was 16, you might not know this, but I am OBSESSED with sports. I spend a lot of my free time watching, playing and investing in sports and sports related activities. Baseball is high on that list. Today was the day that the 2020 season was set to kick off, with my beloved Milwaukee Brewers facing…

Holding on to hurt

“What if you just let it go?” That’s a question most people can only ask others and not themselves. When a wrong has been done, it seems easy for those looking in from the outside to posit the suggestion that “letting go” would be easier and more productive than “hanging on” to hurt. Let go and let God the religious ones might even say. And you know what, it’s even scriptural it appears;  Philippians 4:5–7 (ESV)Let your reasonableness be known…

Stop feeling sorry

“I’m sorry.” These two words are some of the most powerful in the English language. They have the power to heal, restore hope and bring people together like almost no other combination. Used correctly there’s almost nothing those words can’t do, including undo the past, if only in an emotional or figurative manner. Being sorry is an amazing thing, and in almost every circumstance, it is something I encourage people I counsel and those I love, to do.  So now,…