Moments of Quiet Truth

     Loss makes us uncomfortable. It reminds us of struggle, discomfort, a lack of our own control, and of our own mortality.  L oss leaves us feeling exposed. It hits a little too close to home. I reminds us of our limitations, humanity, and the possibility that this pain is something we, ourselves, could experience. We don't enjoy contemplating that - it makes us feel VERY vulnerable and VERY uncomfortable. So, often, we avoid dealing with it by filling the awkward, empty space with words that "sound" Christian but reflect very little of the heart of Christ. Christ is not uncomfortable in the face of pain. He doesn't seek to run away from the hurting, the broken, the diseased - He runs toward them. And when He does, He doesn't preach at them - He touches them and heals them. In the following posts, I want to work through a list of things that loss/grief exposes or lays bare in the hearts of both those who have experienced it and those who haven't. This ...

" I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,  even there  your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night -  but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Psalm 139:7-12 "Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:4-6 "He was despised and rejected -- a man of sorrows, acquainted with d...

  "(9) And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.' For all the the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. (10) Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.' (11) So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, 'Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.' (12) And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them." Nehemiah 8:9-12      Many of us are familiar with home decor that uses Scripture verses as a way to encourage the viewer of Biblical truths. How often, though, is the viewer ignorant of the context of ...

    A lot of what I've been pursuing recently has had an apologetic purpose. In my current pursuit, however, I ran across a statement that pulled me up short. The statement was that the purpose of apologetics is to win the man, not the argument .       The reason this pulled me up short is that I love debate and have often seen it as a means of showing up the other party and winning the argument. I love acquiring new information to use in my arguments. I love the thought that my arguments are well-reasoned and I don't feel like I can make them such without a lot of research. (There are some, especially scholars, who will not respect what you have to say unless you can demonstrate to them that you have thought through your argument and have some answers to their questions.). This has driven me to constantly study and research and learn. What seems to happen as a result of this pursuit is that I lose focus on the person and, instead, focus on the facts. Facts...

Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say the the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,  nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side,  ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes  and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place -- the Most High, who is my refuge -- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On t...

      I began a journey of discovery a few months ago and it has changed my life. It has changed the way I look at the Bible and my natural curiosity/desire to learn has been heightened exponentially. I want to dig into my Bible in a greater way than I think I every have. Due to this journey of discovery, I've begun to learn how to look at the Bible through the worldview lens of those who wrote it. Things I either glanced over (due to ignorance) or might have briefly puzzled over now fit into a framework that makes sense.        A major aspect of this framework is my need to have categories for the supernatural beings and worldview presented in the Bible. A 're-emergence' of these categories in some Christian circles has led to some very strong opinions, both for and against their accuracy and/or necessity. Some are more willing to accept their presence in Scripture and others are vehemently opposed, often to the point of inconsistent interpretations o...