kc bob: THEOLOGY

Showing posts with label THEOLOGY. Show all posts

commentary on divine sovereignty

In 2016 I posted this thought and had a number of comments on it:

"The sovereignty of God is always in accord with the character of God." #kcbob

Here are a few of my responses to comments from back then:

Regarding the character of God:

The sovereignty of God is sometimes misused to malign the character of God by attributing to him things like genocide and infanticide. We see it a lot when people blame God for deaths resulting from earthquakes or when rationalizing killing in his name.

In each case, a person's image of God comes into play. If one thinks the character of God is warlike they might interpret his sovereignty differently from one who sees God as loving. I think that, people missed God appearing in the flesh because they imagined him as a physical warrior rather than a spiritual one.

The OT is filled with stories about God commanding bad things. The question is how we read those verses. Do we unquestioningly read reports of God commanding heinous acts like infanticide or do we understand that the Israelis, like their neighbors, had a view of God as a warrior that influenced their actions and rationalized their behavior.

As to why bad things are permitted:

The question is does God allow life to happen (good things and bad) in general or in specific? Has God designed life to teach us lessons about handling adversity or is he a micromanaging deity who manipulates our lives to allow heinous things so that we can learn from them.

My view is that God created the earth and called it good. The bad stuff comes from within creation and not from outside of it. I think that God "allows" at a macro level and not a micro level. On the flipside, I also believe in miracles, which are the exception and not the rule.

About justice and what it looks like:

Justice is a great word. I think that some would differ in how they define it. I like what the bible says about justice:
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)

This is what the LORD says: “Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed.” (Jeremiah 21:12)

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Administer true justice: show mercy and compassion to one another.” (Zechariah 7:9)

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. ( Isaiah 30:18)
That said, I think the definition many have of justice might resemble the human view which includes retribution and satisfaction. This is the way that a favorite author of mine puts it:
"There is a biblical concept of “judgement” or “wrath.” Jesus warned frequently that the people were calling judgement on themselves and called them to turn (repent) from the course they were on. Judgement or wrath is the consequence of sinful or hurtful action. It follows from sin like falling is the consequence of jumping off a cliff. Paul writes in the Romans that “the wages of sin is death.” The wage, the thing you get as a result, what you have coming to you, is death. “but the gift of God is eternal life.”
God, who is a God of love (compassion) and justice (making things right), desires not to see us die, but to give us life. God desires to break us out of the vicious cycle of consequence and to therefore bring about justice—to make things right again, to restore us to where we where meant to be. Not by saying that it is of no consequence that we are bleeding and broken, but by taking us out of the treadmill of death, by liberating us from the tyranny of hurting and being hurt. That is what biblical justice is all about. It is not in conflict with compassion, it is rooted in compassion."
Yes, rooted in compassion, not in conflict with it.

Much of our thoughts on this tap deeply into our ideas about fairness. IMO. Life is simply not fair. Yet I do not see a close relationship to God and fairness. Suffering comes from within creation not from outside of it.

perspective

Ever had really high expectations and have somewhat of a let down? Fifteen years ago my wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Niagara Falls. Our hotel room overlooked the horseshoe falls on the Canadian side. Here is the view from our room.

Quite majestic. And awesome. If only I didn’t have expectations. Hype and preconceived ideas are not the best way to approach something as monumental and unique as Niagara Fall.

It is also not the best west to approach God and prayer.

I think that we often imagine God to be someone, or something, that he is not.

Before traveling east I imagined Niagara to be much different - I was sucked into my own imagination. I envisioned something much taller, much louder and frankly more majestic. At first glance, from my hotel room, I was disappointed because of my expectations of the Falls.

We can, in the same way, be disappointed with God when he does not meet our expectations. We often imagine that he will do something in one manner - then he acts, or doesn't act, in a way contrary to our thinking. And we are disappointed. We often come to God in prayer expecting Him to answer according to our imaginations. And we are disappointed when he doesn't.

After the initial letdown my wife and I journeyed closer to the Falls. A few more pictures.

Taken from the Maid of the Mist as we headed towards the Falls

The overwhelmingly breathtaking view from the Maid of the Mist.

You know, when the view changes … when the perspective or context is different … a different dynamic is at play. When I saw the falls from the boat I was able to take in the power of the falls. Up close the waters seemed more powerful. The sounds much louder. Everything seemed different.

Rainbow arching over the Falls.

Later that day we returned to our hotel room. I looked out the window and saw this image. When I saw the bow I was reminded of God’s blessings. Sometimes we can only see the blessings from afar.

I think that a different perspective often brings us to a new place of appreciation for God’s working in our lives - if we can only get past our expectations and imaginations.

Good Friday Reality Check

I think that the images at the left represent the different ways that people see the scourging of Jesus on that first Good Friday when He suffered at the hands of the religious and political leaders of His time.

In truth the image on the far left is the one that I want to cling to - the one of a super-human man who endured a beating and walked triumphantly to death.

The other image just breaks my heart. It haunts me. It challenges me. It confronts me with a reality that I don't like.

I pray that this will cause you to ponder the reality of Jesus' sacrifice for us.
It is a good thing to do on this Good day.

- I first posted this in 2010. Seemed appropriate to republish today.

a christian litmus test

A few excerpts from an article by Stephen Mattson titled "Not Everything 'Biblical' Is Christlike".

"While the Bible can be manipulated to say and mean almost anything, the words, actions, and life of Jesus aren’t as pliable."

"For Christianity, the litmus test should always be: Is this Christlike? Imagine all of the times were read, see, and hear the term ‘biblical’ used. Now practice changing the wording to ‘Christlike’: Would you rather your church be biblical or Christlike? Would you rather a political policy be biblical or Christlike? Would you rather someone’s actions be biblical or Christlike? Would you rather have your beliefs be the most biblical or the most Christlike? Would you prefer a life that is biblical or Christlike?"

I recommend the article to you. You can read it here.

God’s Dream for the World

“Christ in Silence” by Odilon Redon circa 1897

"God’s vision for humanity is nothing less than for us to be participants in the perfect love that he is throughout eternity. He wants the love of the Trinity to be the replicated toward us, among us and through us to the whole world. God’s dream is for us to be in him, and he to be in us—in the same way the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father. The dream is for humanity to be loved by God, and to in turn love God, with one and the same love that is the eternal triune God." -Greg Boyd, God’s Dream for the World. Read more here.

The Glorious Mystery of Christmas

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. -John 1:14 MSG

There is a divine mystery that has surrounded humanity since the very first Christmas. Doubtful that anyone in that stable where baby Jesus was born really understood the significance of what had just happened. Who could have grasped that God Almighty had taken on human flesh? Who could have understood that this was not an earthly king come to sit on an earthly throne? Who looking at this helpless babe could have ever imagined that he was the the One to save them from their sins?

Yet John says here that he was one of the ones who saw the glory. He knew the Messiah and he embraced the nature of his divine mission. As John writes you get the impression that he was looking back and realizing that he walked with God and saw his glory for many years. John witnessed the miracles, remembered the teachings, agonized over the cross and saw the resurrected Messiah. These verses bind together the miracles of Christmas and Easter. They reveal to us the mystery and glory of Christmas.

spiritual possibilities

Where there is freedom there is the possibility of love.
Where there is love there is the possibility of pain.
Where there is pain there is the possibility of a savior.
Where there is a savior there is the possibility of redemption.
Where there is redemption there is the possibility of a restoration.

-Ravi Zacharias

please do not #prayerbomb my friends

I loved reading this message from my friend Letiah on Facebook. She is a member of the clergy with the Church of the Nazarene. Letiah uses crutches to get around.

Letiah @ Young Clergy Network

My first time here. I was prayer-bombed today because I'm crippled. I did not fight it. I chose to endure the spiritual abuse because I knew it would make him leave faster. I was right. Prayer & go. Didn't even take the time to get to know me at all.

I'm surrounded by Christians who see me as a project right now. I just came to visit the new local coffee shop in my neighborhood. Perhaps if I was viewed as a human the quickie prayer might have focused on something else. I am not angry. This has happened too often in my life for anger to take up space about this. I am just naming the ignorance and ableism that is obviously present in our world and its systems.

Sadly, this is continued evidence that this narrative is widely lived into in the church. Why do people with disabilities widely refuse to attend church? Why do we have issues with our bodies and being? I would suggest because we don't like feeling like projects.

I would also suggest that many of us have accepted and even like the way our disabled bodies bear the image of God in our world. We are NOT here on earth to provide a source of inspiration or to be fixed. Our humanity has been blessed since the very beginning.

We are very good....crutches... and all.

Rant over.

BTW. The iced chocolate Chai is delicious and I'm still crippled. Just in case you were wondering.

Being in a wheelchair and disabled, my wife Ann has had similar experiences of being prayer-bombed because of her disability. I think that the problem with #prayerbombing is a confluence of bad theology and bad manners. I have often said that folks wanting to #prayerbomb Ann should be asking her to pray for them.

Like Letiah, Ann responds with beautiful grace to #prayerbombers. Hats off to Letiah and Ann for the grace and strength they display to us every single day.

So please try not to #prayerbomb my friends. Instead, ask them to pray for you.

Beware the Half Truth

Religious life seems to be filled with clichés that are almost true.
Here are a few with my short takes on them.

Everything Happens for a Reason:
Some things do happen for a reason.
When God closes a door, God opens a window.
Hopefully the window is on the first floor.
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves:
God helps those who cannot help themselves.
Let go and let God.
God usually does not do things he wants us to do.
What Would Jesus Do?
Not the same as what does Jesus want me to do.
You can’t outgive God!
But you can outgive things given to religious groups.
Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.
Coffee shops are great places to assemble for fellowship.
God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle:
Sometimes we need others to help us handle life.
God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It:
Simplistic readings of the scriptures are not helpful.
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
What if God did not bring you to it?
Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin:
Love your neighbor. Hate your own sin.
You're never more safe than when you're in God's will.
Sometimes being in God's will involves torture and persecution.

Did I miss any of your favorite clichés? Perhaps you can share one or two of them?

To Forgive is to Let Go

I saw this image on Facebook this morning. The words that popped out to me was "I can let go". It reminded me that there are many facets to forgiveness. Yet at the heart of it is the idea that one person releases another of something. Sometimes it is in the form of a financial debt. Other times it is the letting go of bitterness.

In a very real sense forgiveness is letting go of the things that we cannot control and embracing gracious mercy. I find this idea to be so liberating. For the one forgiven and for one forgiving. It puts forgiveness in a healthy perspective. Instead of one of emotional weakness it presents an image of a tremendously powerful person. One willing to let go of the bad things that control them.

Jesus will choose the next president?

The next president will receive 100% of the vote- Jesus alone will choose.
Whomever He chooses will be better than we deserve. -RC Sproul

A friend posted this quote from Sproul on Facebook yesterday with this verse:

"The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool." (Psalm 110:1)

Here is our dialog about it [my friend's comments are in indented].

Jesus will choose the next president?

More like "has" from the foundation of the earth.

I know that Sproul is a Calvinist. Are you a Calvinist too?

For 30 years I have believed in the sovereignty of God.
Yes, I would consider myself reformed theologically.

When I think about the word sovereignty I see a pyramid where God has delegated sovereignty to nations, to communities, to families and finally to the individual. Both groups of peoples and people themselves exercise an incredible amount of sovereignty in the world. Small wonder, with this amount of sovereignty (even at a micro level) that the world is not worse than it is. Perhaps that speaks to the overarching (macro) level of sovereignty that God exerts as He brings beauty from ashes and works all things together for our good? That said, I do think that many embrace Job's theology.

I believe that nothing has touched my life that did not pass through the hand of God. I believe that God is continually working all things together for my ultimate good and His purposes. I believe that whatever Satan or people have meant for evil, God is simultaneously working for good. When I do not understand why various things occur, I still trust in God's wisdom and goodness.

No problem with that. Yet the idea that God chooses presidents is a bit outside of the definition of sovereignty. And it presents a troubling image of God not only appointing presidents like Reagan but also despots like Nero and Hitler.

Jesus said to Pontius Pilate. "You would have no authority over me unless it were given to you from above." (John 19:11).

Yes. Leaders have delegated sovereignty. No argument there.

I guess I am missing your point then. Did God, at least permit, Hitler and Nero to have authority?

Since the beginning God has delegated sovereignty over creation to humans. US citizens exercise their God given sovereignty when they vote. Regarding Nero and Hitler, humans made them sovereign over others by their actions and inactions.

Are you saying God had nothing to do with it? Could have God intervened and stopped it?

You bring up issues regarding how God interacts with the world.

1) Firstly, he acts through creation. Natural laws of physics constrain much of what we do. Delegated sovereignty to humans also impact creation. The effects of Adam's sovereign actions (and humans since him) affect us still.

2) Secondly, history has proven that he also directly intervenes in the affairs of men. Miracles sometimes, albeit rarely, happen.

The existence of one form of sovereignty does not negate the other. In the end, God is more about influencing us and not controlling us. He wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit in the way that we exercise our sovereignty in the world. I think Ernie once put is this way: God leads. Satan controls.

Man's sovereignty is limited - "The heart o the king is in the hand of the Lord and he turns it wherever He wills." Prov. 21:1

I do love that verse in Proverbs. LOL. Not surprising that Solomon saw himself in that light. Many times leaders sense that their heart is being directed by God. Yet I am not sure that Solomon's heart was being turned by the Lord when he was amassing wives and concubines. In reality, no person is perfectly led by God.

I am not saying that human sovereignty is unlimited. Delegated sovereignty by nature is limited. Yet it seems obvious that God has delegated the election of presidents to the limited sovereignty of human beings. Which is where we began.

Brother I think this discussion could go on indefinitely due to the fact that my view of God and how He orders creation differs with your own. Here is how I see it based upon my understanding of the Reformers:Contrary to the “deistic” approach that some Christians take regarding God and His creation, the Biblical worldview insists that God rules over every aspect of nature. God is not like the “clockmaker” who creates the clock, winds it up, and then walks away. God has not walked away from His creation allowing nature to function by the “laws” that He established. Instead He is the One who moves the “hands of the clock.” According to the Bible, nature does not function by “scientific laws” but by the action of God. What we refer to as “scientific laws” are in reality the way God normally does things. Science is the study of “God’s pattern of behavior.” He is quite predictable. In fact, He is so predictable that you stake your life and occupation on His “routine” hundreds of times each day. We can be fairly certain that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning, because that is “normal” way God functions. But it is God who causes the sun to rise (Matt.5:45, also see Ps. 147: 8-9, 15-18). The sun does not operate independent of God according to the “laws of nature,” that is deism, not the teaching of Scripture. The Bible never uses the term nature in the sense of an autonomous entity, with unity in and of itself. The unity of the created order is in the Creator. The world works according to God’s acts and decrees. (See Isa. 45:7; Lam. 3:37-38).

The view that I presented you is not Deism - just read what I wrote about God directly intervening in the affairs of men. That is not Deism.

Yet the one that you present looks more like Pantheism because it really does not separate the Creator from the created. When the scripture speaks of God causing the sun to rise it is speaking of how God created the universe and not a divine micromanager of atoms. Really, if you are speaking about God manipulating atoms then I am not sure that you are making a clear distinction between the energy that moves the atoms and the God who created the energy. In my view God is not the energy who moves the sun but the One who created the energy.

That said, I do appreciate the dialog. And I can see where it could go on indefinitely.

I likewise appreciate the dialog. Let's end it for the time being, but I'm tempted..lol.

So what do you all think? Will Jesus choose the next president?

The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument attempts to prove that God exists by showing that there cannot be an infinite number of regressions of causes to things that exist. It states that there must be a final uncaused-cause of all things. This uncaused-cause is asserted to be God.
...
Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) had a version of the Cosmological Argument called the Argument from Motion. He stated that things in motion could not have brought themselves into motion but must be caused to move. There cannot be an infinite regression of movers. Therefore, there must be an Unmoved Mover. This Unmoved Mover is God. [Excerpted from an article by matt Slick. Read more here.]

What does it mean to have eternity in your heart?

Ever think about the future? Ever wonder about what life will be like when we shed our mortal shell?
King Solomon, when he was old, thought about such things when he wrote Ecclesiastes. He wrote:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV)

Interesting that, in context of eternity, Solomon says that He has made everything beautiful. That is good news because life before death is often not too pretty, much less beautiful. It is interesting that we all seem to be born with this concept of eternity but really cannot understand it, even at a superficial level, with our heads. I guess that is because we cannot grasp timelessness.

I know that I cannot imagine a place where there are no seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks or years. What I find interesting about this idea of eternity is that it is a concept of the heart not the head. It is a concept that confronts us at a heart level. It causes us to wonder at a gut level. Sad that many take eternity, try to discern it with their heads, and arrive at some strange places. Maybe this sort of cogitation is a way to handle an unanswerable question with a non-answer?

Let me wrap up with the titled question. What do do you think it means to have eternity in your heart?

Rethinking "God Allows"

The title of Mark Gregory Karris' post, "Rethinking the Phrase “God Allows” In Response to Evil", caught my attention yesterday. I found his thoughts to be a bit challenging. Here are a few clips from it.

The word “allow” is poison to the sensitive, God-seeking, and traumatized soul for two reasons. First, it makes God out to be a voyeuristic monster who arbitrarily jumps into time, willfully intervening in some people’s lives to save them from harm, and willfully choosing not to intervene in others. ... Secondly, the word “allow” assumes God could have done otherwise.
...
Evil events occur precisely because a loving and uncontrolling God is not in control of all things. ... Just because God is not in unilateral control does not mean that God is passive. According to the Oxford dictionary, the word control can mean “the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.” I suggest that God is controlling, or to use a better phrase, “God is lovingly influencing” us, by inviting, empowering, inspiring, filling, convicting, leading, comforting, healing, and challenging us toward ever increasing experiences of shalom.

If you are interested, I suggest that you read Mark's article in full here. You may also enjoy the comments there as well.

Is Believing in God a Part of Human Nature?

Theologians have been trying to answer the questions around the origins of faith for thousands of years. A piece by CNN reports that a new study concludes that religious belief is an aspect of human nature. Here are a few clips from it:

Religion comes naturally, even instinctively, to human beings, a massive new study of cultures all around the world suggests.
...
Studies around the world came up with similar findings, including widespread belief in some kind of afterlife and an instinctive tendency to suggest that natural phenomena happen for a purpose.

"Children in particular found it very easy to think in religious ways," such as believing in God's omniscience, said Trigg. But adults also jumped first for explanations that implied an unseen agent at work in the world, the study found.
...
"If you've got something so deep-rooted in human nature, thwarting it is in some sense not enabling humans to fulfill their basic interests," Trigg said.

"There is quite a drive to think that religion is private," he said, arguing that such a belief is wrong. "It isn't just a quirky interest of a few, it's basic human nature."

"This shows that it's much more universal, prevalent, and deep-rooted. It's got to be reckoned with. You can't just pretend it isn't there," he said.

I expanded the word 'religion' to 'believing in God' in the title because it is a bit more specific. I think that many disagree with this study and would say that we are not born with the ability to believe in God. To atheists the idea that all have some kind of belief is a bit ludicrous. Yet there are religious people who believe that people are born without the ability to believe and God grants some the ability later in their lives.

I love these kinds of questions. It reminds me how early in my life I believed in God. Yet later in life I became a practical agnostic that embraced a sort of deism where I believed in a God who created the universe but was no longer involved in it. Thankfully, when I was 27, that agnostic belief turned into real faith. And I guess faith is the issue. Whether we are born with the ability to believe in God or not the real issue is what we do with that belief.

... originally posted on May 29, 2011.

... for more Best of Bob click here.

Disorganized Religion

The writings of many these days seem to include an almost a vitriolic campaign against anything traditional or institutional when it comes to church. Many in cyberspace write profusely on the topic often rejecting the idea that anything good has come from the traditional version of church. I just read this statement from a leader that I admire much:

"Some say they don't like "organized religion" but the alternative is disorganized religion - that is, a personal, private, individual religion. It lacks accountability, mutual encouragement, stretcher-bearers, the input and insights of others and perhaps most powerfully, the power of multiple people working together to do Christ's work in the world. Ten people can do more, working together, than any one of them can do, even than ten of them will do, when working alone without coordination."

Did you catch the idea that personal faith, when divorced from cooperative efforts, is simply disorganized religion? I so agree with the benefits of organization - we all need each other so much. Yet I also understand that many ... I mean so very many ... have not experienced the benefits of organized religion. Instead of benefits many have experienced the dark side of religion and cannot imagine being a part of a church again. The issue is so complex. I am a part of a church that embraces the best of organized religion but sometimes I want to retreat to my brand of disorganized religion. How about you?

... originally posted 4 years ago today

Christianary

In trying times I think it is relevant to talk about how people use religious clichés when speaking to hurting people. Some seem to superstitiously cite them at the strangest times. And many clichés, in some weird sense, give us a way to superficially get us past the awkwardness of responding to difficult situations. Here are a few clichés with my thoughts.

Let Go and Let God!

I think that I would like it better if it said "Let Go and Trust God".

But For The Grace Of God, there go I!
What strange theology credits God for helping me but not you?

God hates the sin but loves the sinner!
Seems to communicate the idea that God is all about what we do.

God is still on the Throne!
Sounds like some of the superficial advice that Job heard from his friends.

God helps them that helps themselves!
My thinking is that the gospel is all about God helping those who cannot help themselves.

Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good!
I suggest the the "heavenly minded" are usually people in denial of earthly reality.

Prayer changes things!
Mostly I think that prayer changes us and the way that we act.

Love the exclamation points! Thinking about these religious clichés reminded me about the word "Christianary" that my friend Jim made up many years ago. We Christians do seem to love to use all sorts of religious words and phrases that many unchurched folks do not understand. Do you have any religious clichés to add to the list?

... originally posted April 3, 2013

Fallen World not Fallen God

The subject of pain and the sovereignty of God (i.e. why God allows it) has perplexed man for ages. I think that one's view of God's sovereignty is often an issue when the topic of pain and suffering comes up. An image of a fallen God is often painted by some who say that God controls, causes or allows suffering. On the flip-side some understand that God created everything and called it good but humans sinned and we now consequentially live in a fallen world. The contrast focuses on the source of pain.

Here is part of what I recently wrote to a hurting friend after telling them about my struggles with my wife’s disability and my own battle with a blood disease that has caused me arthritic pain and bone spurs in my ankles and wrists ...

These past years have been difficult ones for both Ann and I. Yet in this season I have begun to realize that, for me anyways, God has not been involved to the degree that I once thought that he was. In a sense I have taken a different view of God and don’t see him directly involved in my pain. Even so, I still pray and still seek his will for me in this season. And I still seek to walk out what I read in the gospels every day.

I guess what this new thinking has allowed me to do, in part anyway, is to embrace God’s love differently. I have found a way to separate the cause of my pain from God but not in a schizophrenic way. I guess I see his sovereignty more in a macro (whole world) sense than a micro (narcissistic me) sense. I hate what has happened to Ann and me but see it more as the result of a fallen world than a fallen God.

...originally posted October 21, 2012

God's Will is all about Character

The topic of God's will is on my mind this morning so I thought that I might opine about it a little. Once upon a time I embraced a pretty traditional view of the topic in that I saw the will of the Almighty in events. World events. Local events. Family events. Personal events.

These days I see God's will not so much in events but in how we respond to those events and the sort of person that they make us. Consider what the Apostle Paul had to say on the matter in the biblical book of Romans:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

What I get from this verse is that God will use anything to make us like him. Like a divine maestro he orchestrates both the good and bad events of our lives to conform us and mold us into human beings who reflect his image.

I think that this is a helpful mindset to have when we are struggling and in pain. Knowing that God's will is not about the events but about our character really encourages me. Does it encourage you?

... originally posted in July 2011

Zeusophobia

I came across this word and wrote about it in one of my daily devotions (read it here).
I think that it is an important word because it helps us identify unhealthy religious behavior.

Fearing God can often start out as something healthy and morph into something toxic and bad for us. As the Apostle John writes: "whoever fears has not reached perfection in love". I strive to be more perfect in love and more rejecting of fearfuls ways.

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