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  • Character Culture Diversity Life words
    The problems with belly buttons

    The problems with belly buttons

    Years ago, while I was traveling in Mexico,a friend pointed to a Volkswagon Beetle, and asked, “Do you know what we call those?  El ombligos, or belly buttons.  Everybody drives one in Mexico.”  And, it was true.  Every police car, taxi, rental car, etc. was a VW Beetle. I’ve also…

    March 21, 2018
  • brokenness Change Culture Diversity Identity Kingdom of Heaven Racism Reconciliation
    Privilege

    Privilege

    As a white, straight, middle-class, college-educated, male, Christian, southern-U.S. citizen it’s taken me a while to grasp the place of cultural privilege I’ve been afforded.  I never did anything to earn or deserve the opportunities I’ve had, simply because of the life I was born into.  Nor have others, more…

    March 20, 2018
  • Church Culture Doubt evil Faith Kingdom of Heaven Prayer Theology
    God is seldom in charge…

    God is seldom in charge…

    While I still believe God is ultimately in charge, is it possible God only controls the events of this world to the degree we align our wills to his’?  Is it possible, we can only align ourselves, collectively, with God if we are truly seeking to know his’ will, and…

    March 19, 2018
  • Change Church Culture Faith Identity Jesus Kingdom of Heaven Life Spirituality Theology
    Remember your baptism?

    Remember your baptism?

    Remembering your baptism isn’t about remembering the event.  Remembering your baptism is remembering who you are as a member of God’s family, as a member of the Church, and as a citizen of God’s kingdom.  Remembering your baptism is remembering you’ve been spiritually changed.  Remembering your baptism is remembering you’ve…

    March 18, 2018
  • Bonsai Character Culture Diversity Masculinity
    What is manly?

    What is manly?

    I’ve recently been in conversations about manliness and masculinity, which has me thinking about roles and stereotypes. 

    March 17, 2018
  • Bible Biblical Ethics Character Faith Life Spirituality Theology Uncategorized
    Timshel:  “You may…”

    Timshel: “You may…”

    Timshel means we have a choice.  In every aspect of our lives, we have choices.  WE CHOOSE! 

    March 16, 2018
  • Character Faith Life Prayer Relationship Spirituality Vision
    What if?

    What if?

    What’s your “What if…?”

    March 15, 2018
  • Bible Doubt evil Faith Theology
    Wrestling with God

    Wrestling with God

    As a son of the “New Israel,” I’ve appreciated God welcoming our wrestling, rather than squashing us like bugs when we challenge him.  In fact, God seems to initiate the wrestling, as life, and our ability to navigate it, is never easy.  

    March 14, 2018
  • Change Life
    “Dim Dots” – Where we’ve been, and where we’re going

    “Dim Dots” – Where we’ve been, and where we’re going

    If you drew a line, starting with your birth, from dot to dot to dot, all the way to this very moment (yes, this moment – as you read this blog), what dots might be coming next, and after that, and after that?

    March 13, 2018
  • Bible Biblical Ethics brokenness Doubt evil Faith Justice Preaching Theology
    Taming Leviathan: in search of God, and an elusively acceptable explanation for suffering and evil

    Taming Leviathan: in search of God, and an elusively acceptable explanation for suffering and evil

    Though leviathan are mythical – especially tamed ones – and the real-life tragedies of this world are definitely not, this image – literal or not – reminds me that God is not defined by my simplistic definitions of good and bad, right and wrong, just and unjust, fair and unfair. …

    March 12, 2018
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