Category: Life

Photo By Nina StrehlI noticed something “new” today in a passage that I have become very familiar with over the years. This passage is Revelation 2:1–7 and it is a letter to the church at Ephesus. Check it out: To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lamp-stands.“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you...

Photo by Christopher JollyToday is Epiphany. Epiphany is the season that leads up to Lent where the Church has historically focused on the reality that Jesus is revealed as God in the flesh and that he is the great redeemer. One of the passages in my reading today was from Isaiah 52, How beautiful upon the mountainsare the feet of him who brings good news,who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,who publishes salvation,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”The voice of your watchmen — they lift up their voice;together they sing for joy;for eye to eye they seethe return of the Lord to Zion.Break forth together into singing,you waste places of Jerusalem,for the Lord has comforted his people;he has redeemed Jerusalem.The Lord has bared his holy armbefore the eyes of all the nations,and all the ends of the earth shall seethe salvation of our God. This is a beautiful poem celebrating the reality of God’s redemption. When Isaiah wrote it the redemption of...

Photo By Silvestri MatteoThis morning I was reading in John 15 where Jesus is bidding his farewell to his disciples. He says something that deeply challenges me and makes me wonder how much I truly do love other people. He says, “Greater love has no on than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” We know this is a foreshadowing of what is to come, that he would willingly die on the cross. This death allowed for new life. This death made a way for reconciliation across all of creation. This death was not death, but it was life and life to the full. So much of my American Christianity is not shaped this way. I avoid pain, discomfort, and death. I avoid it not only in the physical form but also in the spiritual and emotional form. To love well requires a person to metaphorically die to themselves. A person must be willing to set aside their rights and...

Photo by Annie SprattIn the United States there is a phenomenon within some Christian traditions to hold “revivals.” These revivals are usually nothing more than a speaker who comes into town and preaches for a weekend. It’s like a local conference. Churches spend lots of money and time trying to get people to come to their revival. The thing is, this is not what revival really is. Revival is not something that can be planned. It’s not something that you can make happen. True biblical revival is something that the Holy Spirit does in his own time and in his own ways. Even though we can’t make revival happen we can prepare for a move by the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 85 the psalmist writes, “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put way your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us...

Photo By Izzy GerosaYesterday I wrote about a little phrase from Genesis 12, “He went.” As I was reading the Scriptures this morning I was reading in Hebrews 11:13–22 and it reminded me of the reality that often when we “go” we don’t necessarily see things come to fruition. Abraham didn’t live to see his descendants become like sand on the seashore. He never gained possession of the promised land. He went, but he didn’t see the promises from God become sight. I think this is what stops many of us from being willing to just go. We want to be sure of the outcome. This surety won’t ever come. Unless, what we’re looking forward to is not of this world. What if we were looking forward to something more? The author to the Hebrews says this of Abraham and others who set out in faith, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed...