on the walk

The promises of Christ are wonderful. In fact they are so wonderful that I often fall short of fully comprehending his great promises for my good. But nevertheless they are not always what I wished he would promise.

For instance Jesus makes this promise in Matthew 10:18-20,

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Now that is an amazing promise, but it isn’t exactly the promise I would have asked for. I might have preferred this promise, “Don’t worry, they won’t arrest you” or maybe, “Don’t worry about what to say, just pass out fliers.” Continue Reading »

The Internet monk recently posted a challenge post on disappointment with God. He reflects on the reality that we often in our head imagine unrealistic deals with God. (ie. If I serve God faithfully my family will not get sick.) It is a long post but it is worth it if you are struggling to understand where God is in you life.

Here it is.

on the walk

-Ethan

I have been asked to review several secular books lately by well-meaning and sincere Christians who are wondering if the book is consistent with Christian teaching. Even more troubling, I occasionally have godly people recommended books to me that are in many ways significantly opposed to scripture. This has demonstrated to me that many Christians lack skills of discernment to distinguish truth from error. Certainly the most important way to develop such skills is through frequent biblical study in the context of a wise Christian community. However there are some particular questions that form an arsenal of sorts to help Christians confidently asses most texts. I hope to explore these issues in a series of posts. Perhaps these ideas will help you read with more wisdom. Continue Reading »

The Christian life is a life of great promise and great joy, and it is also a life of great sacrifice and struggle.  At times we will find ourselves counting the cost of following Christ and wonder if it is really worth it.  The Desert Monks of early Christianity called this despair, “the noon-day demon” but it can strike at any time and in almost any circumstance.  Here is an excellent comment on understanding and battling this kind of despair from a neat series called Desert Spirituality for City Folks.  You can find the whole series here.

Listening to the podcast will take only about 8 minutes and while it may not brighten your day, it will leave you better prepared for those days that are dark.

on the walk
-Ethan

Everytime I encounter a “new” heretical idea I always hope they are right (that it will be new). But alas that hope is always unfulfilled. Oprah Winfrey has been promoting heresy with increasing clarity over the last few years. Brian Jones has some straight talk on her latest project that includes a link to a helpful article. If you are an Oprah fan or know someone who is, you might want to check it out.

on the walk

-Ethan

My son (he’s five) has been reading the Bible lately.

We have had a Children’s bible for some time, but as he has begun to read on his own, we bought a new Bible that is even easier to read and he has been reading it a lot. It is wonderful. He is so excited that he can read the stories for himself and is pleased to be able to share in these stories that he knows are so important to our family.

There have been a few complicated side-effects, mostly due to the complicated questions that my son has begun to ask. Tonight’s complicated questions were about Saul. He was reading the early sections of the David story. He asked, “Daddy, is Saul a good guy or a bad guy?” I answered carefully, “Well, he does somethings that are good but then he later does lots of things that are bad. So I guess he is both.” Continue Reading »

If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

C.S. Lewis

I heard from my mom that a dear lady named Cookie Helsabeck passed away. She was friend in Tennessee. I am not able to write a fitting tribute to her remarkably lived life. She was the kind of person who made so many feel loved. In particular, she lived a life that was not bound to this earth. She loved life and lived it well, but she lived it with a trajectory toward her true home.

on the walk

-Ethan

My family recently visited Tennessee. Tennessee is still my home. I warned the boys that I might be grumpy for a few days after our return because leaving Tennessee always leaves me homesick. I am glad to be serving in Maryland, and have no doubts that it is the right place for this season of my ministry, but there is something easy and secure about life in Tennessee that is hard for me to quite express. Being homesick however always reminds me of my favorite experiential argument for the existence of God. Continue Reading »

I am on a metaphor hunt.

I posted about gun barrels a few days back. I can’t stop thinking about this issue but the metaphor doesn’t sing for me.

First a few more thoughts on the issue. I easily can get drawn into an institution growth mindset. I love the church. I love Bible studies, and pot lucks. I love softball games and theological debates. I love weddings, and choirs. I love cantatas and seminaries. But in that love there is a great danger. I might be so excited to be in the church that I lose sight of God’s purpose for me. Continue Reading »

I don’t normally think in violent metaphors, and I am not a big fan of guns. (I have fond memories of a pump action BB gun, a fence and coke cans, but that is as far as my fond gun memories go.) But lately I have been thinking about gun barrels. Continue Reading »