I love Hebrews chapter 11. It’s sandwiched between the end of chapter 10 and the beginning of chapter 12, both of which speak of endurance. This means that faith (11) is the meat in the sandwich of endurance (10 and 12). To use another metaphor, the writer is saying that faith is the fuel that … More My Hebrews 11
As I mentioned a few days ago, I took a week-long class called “Hospital Chaplaincy” this summer. We spent five unforgettable days at a major hospital complex in Los Angeles. During this time, I wrestled a lot with the issue of sharing the hard parts of the Gospel with those who are already hurting. Since … More “Hospital Gospel: Preaching a Wounding Message to Wounded People”
Yesterday C.J. Mahaney preached at Grace Community Church in both the morning and evening services. Cindi and I went to the evening service, where he preached on Hebrews 13:17—Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy … More Why I Appreciate C.J. Mahaney
I stopped by some xanga sites tonight. It’s always interesting to see what everyone says. Part of the reason why I stopped using xanga was that I couldn’t quite figure out if people were talking to me or to themselves, and whether or not I was talking to other people or to myself. It seemed proud … More Face to Face: Getting Beyond Blogging
The Servant Leadership Staff returned today, and we had our SLS Retreat kickoff tonight at the pool. Dr. Tatlock’s message was right-on and inspiring. I have grown very frustrated with talking about radical Christianity and true discipleship, though. Not because it’s a poor topic to talk about, but rather because it remains necessary to talk … More SLS Retreat, Radical Christianity, and Being Busy
The school year has begun. RD Retreat started at the beginning of August, and RA Retreat was last week. SLS Retreat is this week (beginning Monday night), and all the new students will arrive this coming Saturday. There are many, many details to take care of, and it becomes quite difficult to remember all that … More A New School Year
Cindi and I, Joe and Heidi Keller and their son Sam, and Lisa LaGeorge walked around Newhall a bit tonight and then went to a very cheap dinner at Mi Casa. Then Lisa LaGeorge gave us a tour of her half of a duplex and we fellowshipped in her living room for an hour or … More Read Like a Gospel
Just finished reading some xanga posts. Actually, I stopped in the middle of reading one. I stopped because I was thinking: I wonder what would happen if I stopped criticizing the church for not doing what she’s supposed to be doing and for doing what she’s not supposed to be doing, and in the place of … More DO Something
Long posts lately, I’m noticing. Too long-winded, I suppose. Long-worded, I mean. Many-worded, to be more accurate. Ah, the pursuit of clarity never ends. It takes a lot of work to be precise, doesn’t it? I’ll put that one aside for now lest I become many-worded again (although the more I think about it, working … More The Death of a Man: A Meditation on Real Service
I’m studying right now, and I don’t want to be. Cindi is setting up our new apartment at Oak Manor right now because the carpets just dried from their steam-cleaning earlier today, and I would much prefer to be helping her. This is a lesson in endurance. Endurance is pushing through (with excellence in both … More Studying and Endurance
I’m currently waiting for some time to spend musing on the concept that God brought to my mind the other day: “resurrection boldness.” In Acts, the unashamed, fearless courage of the apostles (especially Peter, who had unblushingly denied his Lord not so long ago) came directly from their undoubting knowledge that their master and leader … More Resurrection Boldness
God has been so good to me. Tonight was our last night together as the Deans’ Staff. We laughed and we cried and we cared and we prayed. Kent Dresdow flew down from the Bay Area to join us for the evening after moving up there a week ago – he got in around 5:00pm … More Deans’ Staff Moving On
A few weeks ago I was asked to write a poem for a Valentine’s Day Banquet / Missions Fundraiser at my home church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The theme was supposed to be the love of God in relationship to missions. A dear friend of mine (a gracious, dignified, loving, bold 62-year-old man) is going to … More New Poem: “Ripple”
Following up on my last post, here’s a quote from xanga’s “Getting Started” tips: “Have something you’ve been dying to get off your chest? Post it to your weblog and achieve the cathartic thrill of self-expression. It feels great to decompress after a long day and write in your Weblog… and if it gets too … More Selfish Blogging
Perhaps I obtained a xanga site mainly so that I could read, not write. I have friends and family that have sites, and I trust that I’ll be encouraged, challenged, blessed, saddened, and broken by what I read and meditate on. I also have obtained a site so that I know how better to pray. … More First Xanga Post
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