Delving into the uncertainties of life with enthusiastic curiosity
Dallas Willard died late last week after a battle with panreatic cancer, and the news was particularly heavy for me, even though I never met him. I picked up Dallas Willard’s book, The Divine Conspiracy, in seminary at a time when I was beginning to wonder if the church had anything to say that would... Continue Reading →
I'm having one of those moments when I keep hearing or reading the same theme repeatedly, then at some point I snap out of my stupor and acknowledge the pattern. On Epiphany Sunday last week, Father Jerry asked a question that has followed me around this week: "What if you asked a trustworthy friend to... Continue Reading →
In the past, I think I was committed to what I'll call the short path to personal transformation. Let me clarify what I meant by "transformation" in my teenage years and for quite some time beyond. Having been a Christian for as long as I could remember, I understood everything using the esoteric language of... Continue Reading →
I recently read an article from a well-known Christian figure who was exploring the issue of gays in the military and announcing his views. While I think we should talk through issues, I do not understand why some feel like they must announce their "stand" on big issues to the world? For example, some denominations... Continue Reading →
When I renamed this blog to its current title, the idea was to exalt and recognize the value of questions. In a typical week, I’m processing almost everything I experience through a filter of who-what-when-where-why questions. I can’t turn it off. I question everything. Unfortunately, sometimes questions are misused. You may have heard a friend,... Continue Reading →
Most of the time, we think of grace in the context of failure. This is understandable, since we are in such a mess. Through a relationship with Jesus, God has offered forgiveness and his undeserved favor in the midst of our self-inflicted plight. Even in a dynamic relationship with God, we still fail and are... Continue Reading →
Do you ever have trouble asking for help? I assume that it probably has something to do with my strong sense of independence, but that's always been a struggle for me. Independence is great when you are talking about freedom from an oppressive regime that taxed us out the wazoo 200 years ago, but when... Continue Reading →
I remember birthdays as a kid, and how it always felt so good to add one year to the scorecard that was my age. The bigger the number got, the closer I thought I'd be to the day when someone important told me that I was OK. I was just waiting for someone to say,... Continue Reading →
Our pastor preached a message on the first 12 verses of 2 Thessalonians this morning, but I couldn't get past verse 3. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly... The phrase that keeps jumping out at me is that their faith was... Continue Reading →
I began training last week for another half-marathon (last year's full marathon was special, but I'm going to keep it sane this year). As I laid out my training schedule, I'm trying to carve 20 minutes off of my best time. This will require a level of discipline that I've not achieved in my running... Continue Reading →
Curious Heretic 