We could ponder beauty together, asking why these colors inspire, or sooth. We could talk about God’s faithfulness and the beauty of season changes. We could talk about light, and how the same tree looks so very different in the morning than the evening. But we won’t. Instead I’ll just note that because all of these were shot within walking distance of my house, I consider myself one of the most blessed and fortunate people on the planet! Enjoy! Oh... Read more
Most expressions of American Christianity have roots in Pietism, which means that we’re good at expressing the importance of being made right with God, good at explaining the need to born again. This is our strength, and I’m glad because it’s step one, foundational for all eternity, and for all transformation. “We must be born again,” is how Jesus put it, which means that we must be born of the spirit. The problem with Pietism, though, is that it often... Read more
Most expressions of American Christianity have roots in Pietism, which means that we’re good at expressing the importance of being made right with God, good at explaining the need to born again. This is our strength, and I’m glad because it’s step one, foundational for all eternity, and for all transformation. “We must be born again,” is how Jesus put it, which means that we must be born of the spirit. The problem with Pietism, though, is that it often... Read more
I was listening to the news this morning on the radio and heard some snippets of Michelle Obama’s appearance yesterday in Olympia, WA, stumping for Patty Murray’s re-election to the Senate for another six years. I thought about the Patty Murray ads I’ve watched over the past two months, as well as those from her opponent, and realized that in both the cases, the plea for my vote is based on one declaration: “I’m not as rotten as the other... Read more
There are lots of things in the Bible that elicit debate. Some people see economic justice as a primary theme while others see personal renewal. Some see a young geophysical earth while others integrate evolutionary theory with the Genesis narrative. We argue over sexual ethics, and whether yoga is an acceptable form of recreation. We argue over just how far Christ’s claims reach into our lives, as Christians turn up their noses at each other because they’re drinking fair trade... Read more
Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; when the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more. This is one of the most liberating verses in the Bible. When I began college, right after my dad had died, I was intent on “making my mark” on the world. I didn’t want to die and be forgotten, so I pursued architecture, believing that by designing space for... Read more
Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; when the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more. This is one of the most liberating verses in the Bible. When I began college, right after my dad had died, I was intent on “making my mark” on the world. I didn’t want to die and be forgotten, so I pursued architecture, believing that by designing space for... Read more
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – Gandalf Yes, but to decide wisely, I’ll need to give an eviction notice to that squatter who takes up residence in my soul again and again. He comes in uninvited, and his presence casts a shadow over everything, but especially over tomorrow. Staring into the darkness that is the future, or even pondering what’s happening in the present, out there in the shadows,... Read more
Everything about this time of year points to the simple reminder that we’re called to rest. The deciduous trees shed their colors, going out in a blaze of glory before resting. The “raised beds” which provide for families so marvelously all summer are covered over, and the soil rests. The alarm goes off in the morning and, if we’ve the liberty to do so, we open ours and see the dark, turn over, and catch more zzz’s. I come home... Read more
Here’s the article that got the ball rolling. Pastors are chiming in all over the web, so there’s a sense in which I’m not sure I could add anything to the discussion. On the other hand, it appears to me that some critical pieces are missing from the discussion, so here are what I consider to be some critical observations: 1. The Christian life is about Jesus Christ. It begins with Him, invites us to live in Him, and will... Read more
Fibonacci Faith: Changing Everything
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