The manifold wisdom of God...

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” (Ephesians 3:10 AV)

If our Bible study is boring, we are missing something; if we think we have God all figured out and explained, guess again.

Sometimes it feels like I plateaued at some point without really noticing. I acquired a certain basic level of knowledge about God and then just sort of coasted after that. The decisions I make, the opinions I express, the avenues of counseling I pursue, the direction I take in personal discipleship sessions, seem to emanate more from a rather dormant orthodoxy lying about in the background.

Don’t be too depressed about depression; don’t despair over despair...

"In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant. My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known -- no wonder, then, that I return the love."  Soren Kierkegaard

I am not trying to be flippant about such a delicate issue; nor can I avoid oversimplifying in this brief space.

Our formative years were influenced by elements reacting to Freudian principles in a way that, while to some degree understandable, left the mistaken impression that there was never any use in the Christian’s life for psychiatric evaluation or medication.

Meet "Orbus"...

Sunday afternoon, Linda started hearing something like a dog crying, whenever she went into the bathroom. She thought it was the neighbor's a block behind us, as usual.

I heard the same sound a couple of times later in the evening before I went to bed. To me, it sounded like cries of pain, an animal that had been run over or hurt by another animal.

The art of considering...

For All

Ah to be alive
on a mid-September morn
fording a stream
barefoot, pants rolled up,
holding boots, pack on,
sunshine, ice in the shallows,
northern rockies.

Rustle and shimmer of icy creek waters
stones turn underfoot, small and hard as toes
cold nose dripping
singing inside
creek music, heart music,
smell of sun on gravel.

poem by Gary Snyder

_______________________

We are not really known for being quiet and reflective, are we? We are so business-like and goal oriented that I fear we often miss the profundity and sheer joy of the moment.

Thank you, Paul...

“10 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” (Acts 26:19)

Thank you for being obedient, for being a true pioneer, for leaving such an enduring legacy and example. Do you guys sign autographs in heaven? If you do, I’d like to get in line.

I am a slow learner. But, I also understand that God teaches us by stages. The Word remains the same; he just seems to help us get more out of it as the years go by. Such has been my experience with this verse:

Don't hold back because you think you're too small...

Iglesia Bautista Berea, downtown Cancun, celebrates its 26th Anniversary today. As I was getting my presentation ready for this evening, I came across a few pictures that took me back even further than that.

This one is of Linda, Jeremy and Rebekah in the cab of our 1961, 4-wheel drive pickup, leaving the States en route to language school in Guadalajara, Mexico, December, 1976.

My first reaction was, how did we ever survive? No Spanish, no experience, no friends, no clarity as to how we would ever remotely accomplish what we had set out to do...

Beautiful Feet...

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Ro 10:15)

When you think of the most attractive parts of the human body, which ones come to mind first? I would venture to say that your initial response would not be the same as God's. Yep, he would say, "your feet."