Brief Thoughts, Inspirations, and the occasional Provocation for the people of Garden Sanctuary, and you too…
This year is going to have some tough, terrible days. There, I said it. January 1, and I just said the thing none of us wants to think about heading into the New Year. You are going to fight with a friend or spouse this year. You are going to get news about your health,... Continue Reading →
Luke tells us that he intends to offer an orderly account of the story of Jesus, and after Mark's breathless recounting, full of stories within stories, the reader is most grateful for the physician's promise of structure. As we begin to take in his writing, our gratitude quickly becomes puzzlement. Just how far is Luke... Continue Reading →
According to most studies, and the conventional wisdom of the day, most evangelical Christians support the presidency of Donald Trump. Some have even gone so far as to claim evangelical leaders have sold their souls and lost their spiritual vision in blind support of the administration. However, those of us who would be labeled as... Continue Reading →
It came as no surprise. Donald Trump has been impeached. It took neither prophet nor political science major to know that this was going to happen. Days into his presidency, politicians were calling for Trump to be removed. When the latest round of congressional elections saw Democrats win the majority the House of Representative seats,... Continue Reading →
Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard, the Creole Confederate general, is probably best known for having ordered the first shots of the Civil War when he directed a bombardment against Fort Sumter. However, one of his greatest moments of leadership may have come in 1862 on the second day of the Battle of Shiloh in southwestern Tennessee. The... Continue Reading →
Below are a few articles that I found of interest this week. If you missed them, these are worth checking out... How an Eternity Full of Tomorrows Can Help Us Get Through Today -J. Warner Wallace Marianne Williamson’s Warning About ‘This Dark Psychic Force’ Is Very Right and Very Wrong -Dr. Michael Brown Is America... Continue Reading →
I recently released an article the purpose of which was to challenge Christians to actually be pro-life. (You can find that article HERE.) One of the accusations that is often leveled against believers, particularly evangelicals in America, is that they claim to be pro-life when in fact they are only pro-birth, and quickly lose interest... Continue Reading →
Often, the criticism that stings the most is that which you know is true. False narratives can be shrugged off, but when the criticism has a measure of truth, it has a way of hitting just a little harder. Much of the criticism that gets leveled at the church is not valid. However, one that... Continue Reading →
Imagine everything you believe in falling apart in one day. Your future, your religion, your occupation for the last three years, your entire worldview... it all comes crashing down in one 24 hour period. That is "Good" Friday for the disciples. for the disciples, they do not recognize a pending miracle, all they know is... Continue Reading →
Human beings are forgetful. We forget everything from keys, to lunch, to post office runs, to the occasional teenager that we assumed was riding home from practice with their friend. Most of our life is spent in the fog of busyness. It is only on occasion that we have real moments of clarity. We forget. ... Continue Reading →
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." -2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) Clarity is defined as "the quality of being coherent and intelligible." There are few... Continue Reading →
January is a month of fresh starts, evaluations, resolutions, and new plans. No matter how often we may say, or even sincerely think, that we are not going to get caught up in the new leaf hype, most of us do it anyway. Maybe you started a new exercise routine, journaling, prayer discipline, or a... Continue Reading →
If I had a dollar for every time my four year old told me she was "a big girl" and "not a baby," I would probably be rich in a week. She is constantly reminding me that she can handle tasks on her own and that she doesn't need my help. Yet, again and again,... Continue Reading →
I suppose that parenting and teaching clichés will never go away, even the ones that we all promised ourselves we would never use. I can remember telling myself that I would never say "because I said so," but try as I might, my four year old still manages to get that one out of me... Continue Reading →
Some of the purest education, and entertainment, in my life is watching my daughters interact with their friends. Their imagination in play and conversation has more than once left me laughing. Their straightforward, often "too" literal, thinking, has taught me my fair share of lessons as well. Their descriptions of people and events are often... Continue Reading →
Growing up with two older sisters had its share of challenges. However, one way it always benefited me was with meeting new teachers. Both of my sisters were well behaved and pretty mild-mannered in school. Since I was a few years younger than both of them, I often ended up with teachers that could still... Continue Reading →
There are few things that feel better than making a plan or commitment, knowing it will be difficult, and then following through and seeing the task completed. On the contrary, few things are more personally disappointing, and publicly embarrassing then not being able to follow through on a promise. Credibility is the foundation for trust... Continue Reading →
It has been said the greatest of performers have one thing in common. Consistency. That's right. Being great is not about always being the best. It is not about being head and shoulders above all your competitions. It is simply about consistently being better than average. That said, what does your 2019 look like thus... Continue Reading →
The car needs gas. The kids need baths. Your boss called, that's weird you didn't even hear your phone ring. The stack of bills on the counter got knocked off and now they are all out of order. The doctor's office called. Your appointment was yesterday. They rescheduled for six weeks from now, and charged... Continue Reading →
I secretly love my phone's camera. I say secretly because I could never admit to Heather, my wife, that I like anything about this phone. I have always staunchly been on the other side of the Android vs. Apple debate and have teased her for years for not agreeing with me. However, in my last... Continue Reading →
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