Have you ever caught yourself arguing a point not because you believed it but because you wanted to win a debate?
Church
The Misfit Syndicate – a group effort
Six guys from college have kept in touch consistently over the last number of years. Cade, Dustin, Jeff, Kevin, Will, and myself have shared encouragement, accountability, and laughs through seasons of difficulty as well as seasons of joy. Last year, they challenged me to write a blog post or a poem on any subject of their choosing for each of their birthdays. This year, they collaborated on a poem for mine. I suggested they write about the brotherhood of believers, using our group as an example, and I’m excited to share their work with you below.
Thanks, guys!
Isolation.
Sequestration.
No man was meant for the hermit’s Operation
Accountability.
Brotherhood.
How some men will stand the opposition of wormwood
Emotionless.
Stoic.
No man was meant for the pure role of heroic.
Scripture.
Games.
Binded by the Lamb’s blood running through our veins.
Gandalf.
The Doctor.
A fan of these, as well as soccer.
Jaime Vardy.
Leicester City.
Go hand in hand like Joe and witty.
Friend.
Brother.
A man like Joe, there could never be another.
How then must these truths be taken?
None other than creating mancation!
A dream to most
We created a weekend of chaos, I must boast
But in the Cross that is
For it is no credit of our own, this work is simply His.
The game playing,
coffee drinking and steak eating will fade.
But this brotherhood is fraternal.
It cannot be broken, for this bond is eternal.
•HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOE THE WALLER•
A Wedding, a Funeral, and a Birth
On Saturday, I attended a wedding. The following Thursday, I attended a funeral. This upcoming Tuesday, I’ll celebrate a birth. All three events are about endings and beginnings, and the first two events, though quite different from each other, find meaning in the third. Continue reading
Ghosts and Gospel
People love ghost stories. People hate ghost stories. But no matter the response, ghost stories have crept into our lives and our cultures, and they don’t appear to be leaving. Continue reading
Horror and Hope
Partial Holiness and Acceptable Sins
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16
Holiness.
Peace
Have you ever noticed how often the New Testament authors addressed divisions within the church?
The Gospel and Social Justice
After asking for some suggestions for blog post topics, I was asked if I would respond to the question, “Is social justice a gospel issue?” I pray the following simple thoughts will contribute to a biblical answer to that question and will serve you well.
Amazon and Accountability
The Next Thing
For years, I’ve fought against the urge to place too much weight upon the next thing. The next thing may not be clearly defined, of course–it rarely is. But nonetheless, I catch myself looking ahead, dreaming of what might be. All the while, I steadily lose sight of my present responsibilities.
