Notes to My Siblings

There are a lot of heated articles going around on the internets these days. Most of them have to do with controversial and emotionally charged moral issues. A new trend is to use scripture to prove points. Now, I'm all about scripture, and I completely agree that it makes your arguments bulletproof...  provided you use it correctly.  Which is where the problem comes in. Context. Context. Context. The Bible doesn't just say any old thing that you conveniently want it to at the moment. It says something specific, and most of the time it's really not all that gray. I promise. For examples, below are a couple verses I've seen thrown around lately to prove points. Underneath each verse I'll summarize what the user used the verse to say, and then under that I'll tell you what the verse is talking about taking context into account. Ready? You'd laugh if it wasn't so dang sad. John 10:16- And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring t...

"I'm so thankful for the Word of God that continues to, day by day, guide my steps and give me just enough light for the step I'm on." -Abby Hickey of Little Birdie Blessings I'm so thankful for my friend Abby and her encouragement. She has consistently texted me a scripture verse at least 4 times a week since last October. I can't begin to count the times when the verse she has sent has been exactly what I needed at the exact moment I needed it.  The day I was annoyed with EVERYONE on the road and EVERYONE that called in to work: "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience." Colossians 3:12b The day I was agonizing over decisions affecting the future: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3 The day I was going have a second interview and would possibly have to make a decision and I had no idea what way to go: "Whether you turn to the right or th...

It's Easter Sunday night, and since about noon today, most of what's run through my head has been "oh man it's almost Monday again" and "I didn't get a weekend this weekend, and I won't have one next weekend..." I lost the wonder of the day by noontime. I must confess I've been a bit spiritually dry lately. I read, I study, I pray, but I have no wonder. I don't marvel at the insane obedience of Jesus Christ to die in my place . When I see the cross, I haven't instantly seen... ME on it. I haven't seen that I deserve to be there. Me. I deserve to be there. I deserve to be whipped, beaten, spat on, mocked, jeered and killed. Me. No matter how many people I am nice to, no matter how many things I "sacrifice", no matter how good I am at anything, it's not good enough . It will NEVER be good enough. God demands perfection. Perfection. So much perfect that you and I can't even imagine that much perfect because ...

"...the ladies are all really hard workers. They see the value in earning their own living in an honorable way and taking care of their kids. They sew two times a week, and many of them work other odd jobs for extra income. They don't have electricity in their village, and they have to walk to the wells to get clean water. They are all working hard at sending their kids to school, and two of them are going back to school themselves to finish! They have learned to care about each other, and share and give..." "...they don't have electricity, and they have to walk to the wells to get water..." It seemed like that's all she'd picked up from my whole paragraph about my week in the Dominican Republic with the Cercadillo Project . Then, she says: "Maybe they should come to America. Would they ever consider doing that?" As if America is the panacea for all that ails the world. As if we have it all figured out. As if going without electrici...

As I'm approaching my quarter-century-versary, I've been thinking about what wisdom I have to offer to the young whippersnappers. I don't have much. But there are a few things I've learned (the hard way is most often my learning style...). Don't make the mistake of thinking someday you'll "arrive" in your faith and have it all together. Stay teachable to the best of your ability. If you feel too confident in what you know about God, the Bible,etc., take a step back and remember how awesomely huge God is. Don't be like the pharisees and assume because you're a generally good person that you've got it figured out. God will make sure something happens that reminds you of that, and it probably won't be a good time. Make life a great big learning experience. Any time you have the opportunity to watch someone do something or try a new thing, take it. Watch the piano tuner. Hold the flashlight for the plumber. Pump the brake pedal for th...

Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need... -A Sunday -Music -Lights -Sound equipment -Ample seating -Live streaming -Money -A bulletin -Christianese -A pastor All you need is... -2 or more people -God The activity that we commonly label as "church" and attach all kinds of baggage to is simply 2 or more Christ-followers meeting together with God to worship the Him, seek His face, know Him more, and encourage each other. Read Acts if you don't believe me. We could "have church" hanging off a cliff. Upside down. With our heads in the ocean. Seriously. [Sidenote: you could pray that God would remove my cynicism. Sorry. But on the bright side, isn't it awesome that you need literally no external stuff to meet with God?!??]

As ISIS makes the headlines and splashes their gruesome images across our media platforms for all the world to see, it's nearly impossible for me to think of THEM... ...as people . I see a human form, garbed in black, doing evil, evil things. But I don't see then as a human. I see a monster. And yet. They are people.  They are people. People who desire to know something bigger than themselves. Don't we all? But. They have chosen the wrong big thing. When people are so sold out to the Evil One, in my mind, I write them off from receiving the grace of God. But that's the thing. No one is too far to be brought to the Lord. No. One. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus re-introduces the heart of the Law of God. Anyone who hates his brother is guilty of murder.   It's about the heart. Just because I've never physically killed anyone doesn't mean I've never murdered according to God's standard. No one is too far to be made new. These men (and occasiona...