Reasons
People say they have reasons not to follow Jesus: bad churches, hypocrisy, science, etc. Reason implies logic, and logic is the wrong starting point for Big Questions. From inside God's kingdom, nothing seems more unreasonable than to claim that the way of manipulation and might is better than the way of love and freedom. Frameworks of reason and logic follow a decision to trust. Who is worthy of my trust?
Ground Cloud
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ⏤ Heb. 12:1b-2
The fog of suffering and injustice is disconcerting. It's confusing and disorienting. We hear sounds we can't place: accusation, condemnation, ridicule, disaffiliation, dehumanization. But Evil is a ground cloud. God invites us to lift our eyes, look up, and set our focus on Jesus in whom we've placed our trust.
Orange Vests
There are times when suffering and injustice surround us like a dense fog. We feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by it all. Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers, was taught as a child to "look for the helpers." There will always be helpers. This should be an encouragement and invitation. Could we be helpers too? Could we wear orange vests so we can be easily found?
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.