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It would be just like him

The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.

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Practicing Our Scales

Imagine if our walk with Christ, representing his kingdom in the world, were as practiced and pure as Hania Rani’s fingers on the piano keys.

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Rescue

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.

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Your Roots Are Showing

The life that I bring to the world can only be found in my attachment to Christ. His presence with me is essential.

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Connection

I live in a U.S. county with traffic problems. It's a peninsula, and what's not swamp land has been developed. Building new roads is difficult and expensive. Making things worse, roads that could connect don't.

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What's in the Bowl?

During a spring trip, my wife and I purchased a glass bowl. It's colorful and handmade. When I turn the bowl upside down, nothing falls out. Does that make it empty?

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Baptized

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in (eis) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... — Matthew 28:19

And whoever welcomes one such child in (epi) my name welcomes me. — Matthew 18:5

When we are baptized, we are immersed, not just into water and fire, but into (Greek eis) God's name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Following baptism, we represent him in all that we say and do in (Greek epi) his name.

What we must not do is take (bear) God's name in vain, misuse his name.

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Kingdom Kingdom

A Poor Self-Image

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. — Deuteronomy 7:6

We aren't independent actors, free to build whatever brand we want.

Nor do we wear the labels others administer to humble (humiliate?) us and make us feel small in God's eyes.

God believes we are his treasured possession. This says something beautiful about us. And it says something truly remarkable about our God.

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Forming Forming

A Different Dashboard

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy... ⏤ 1 Peter 1:8

Another day, this might have been a flyover verse. But today I noticed how Peter is applauding something. What gets celebrated gets repeated, right? He praises surrender and obedience to Christ, values wholehearted dependence, and admires those who are filled with joy, despite hardship. While we like to count things, Peter's dashboard is entirely qualitative. That seems important.

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