the Essays & Reflections
Category: Christian Reflections
Meditative, Contemplative, & Mystical
It is with abundant tenderness that the grace of God meets us. Slowly dripping into our lives. Easily unnoticed. When we slow, pause, and rest we might come to sense it. Sense the presence of God that is always with us, that sustains creation, and that is rooted in love. A love without conditions. Giving us comfort to be like Christ in the midst of all God adores. Inviting us to open our hearts and feelings to experience God.
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The Christ We Follow
As followers of Jesus, it is hard to see Him clearly. Subtly, we start following a Christ that looks like us, or who we wish to be. Soothing our souls by turning from the wild, transforming love of God. Who is the Christ we follow?
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God loves us, and we will be okay.
In my writing and speaking I focus a lot on the unearned grace, tenderness, and love of God. For in my life, I cannot recall a time I didn’t believe I earned all the affection I received. And was therefore to blame when I felt unloved. I am not the only one with this experience,
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Grace will invite you
In the quiet stillness God awaited me. It was there in a moment that could have easily been lost. Jesus invited me. Invited me to see a life of grace as one of endless invitations. That the reality of grace must first unseat each of the ways I now see myself. For all my weaknesses,
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Merry Christmas to All
This night we remember two teens who found themselves alone on a cold night. Alone in the stable. These two faced childbirth without any help. Jesus, Emmanuel, born in the quiet of night. The heavens erupted in praise. The long awaited king has come, humanity and divinity in one. He would proclaimed his kingdom that
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Our Calling should Inspire Us and not Define Us
There’s excitement as people discover, discern, and accept their life calling. Yet if life were a single day this would equate to little more than putting on a single sock. You have not yet reached the door, and have the majority of the real work ahead. With this perspective we can accept our calling as a critical step
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The Resurrection is a sneak peak, so #WhatRapture
In my opinion many Christians who affirm the Rapture fail to take into account the simple reality that Jesus was already transformed before he was ever taken up into the sky. The leaving the disciples and ascending into the sky seemed to be a requirement for; the interim period we are now in (between the resurrection and the consummation of history) and
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The truth is that there is Truth…
”The truth is that there is Truth, but not for us, only for God. This is the appropriation or recontextualizing of the hermeneutics of finitude I propose.” Merold Westphal I really need to get into his work once my schedule lightens up more.
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What makes something Great?
Yesterday morning I found myself thinking about greatness and faith. I have come across individuals who hold that something done with Christ is automatically great. It isn’t that I would discount the importance of living a life with the Spirit, and honoring God with our times and talents. It is that I have issue with
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Into Post-Modernity – Thoughts?
Reading a book by Dr. Alice P Mathews (Preaching that Speaks to Women) and felt this quote was approprate and helpful (slightly adapted to make it readable without needed to read the whole chapter). A Modern knower can be a liberal or a conservative but cannot be a radical because the systems that taught them
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Aesthetics – Thoughts on True Art from Sayers
I have been working through a great book by mid-century literary scholar Dorothy Sayers (Wikipedia) that touch on the topic of art and expression. They were very meaningful so I thought I would quote a portion below, if you want to read the work it’s called ‘Toward a Christian Esthetic‘ in the book Letters to