don’t let them tame you.
There’s this conviction that’s drilling deep down within me. And it’s slow. But it’s steady. And it just sinks and settles. And this conviction is that life is a gift—an opportunity. I’m not talking about a wimpish and half-hearted fling-the-dart-towards-the-target sort of opportunity. I’m talking the Eminem “Lose Yourself” sort of opportunity: Look, if you [...]
where did the transcendence go?
On Thursday nights, our core team gathers to eat and plan and pray and dream about launching a second campus of our congregation. It’s the one meeting of my week that I’m not responsible for—the one church meeting that I can just attend. And I get to attend as the Sunday morning worship leader for this [...]
why i wear black to church
Ours is a t-shirt and flip-flops sort of church, so I can get away with wearing just about anything that falls into the “modest” category. Plus, I’m a “musician” (said in hushed tones with hand covering mouth). So, black it is. And black it’s been for nearly three months: My favorite pair of skinny jeans. [...]
artful markings
We all have mundane moments. You know, the ones that are boring and barely worth noting. Like the drab experience of checking out at the grocery store… Or the hazy everydayness of making the morning coffee… Or the commute home… Then we have moments of grand gesture. Like wearing dark oversized robes and a square [...]
where?
I should probably confess that prayer is one of the most difficult of all the means of connecting with God. In fact, right now I prefer to sit in silence than squeeze out a prayer. Wait. Maybe those are one and the same. Maybe. I wrote this in my journal recently: …the truth is that [...]
conflicts can get ugly; watch how you enter
I’ve noticed in my life that sometimes I don’t enter conflicts well. Even if I have good intentions, many times I enter conflict primarily to elevate my pain or hurt without acknowledging the other person’s pain or hurt. What about you? I don’t think we do this on purpose. It can be difficult to think [...]
how to ensure your efforts land you in the right place
Trajectory. This word has buzzed around in my head all week. tra·jec·to·ry [truh-jek-tuh-ree] noun, plural -ries. 1. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in itsflight. 2. the path described by an object moving in air or space under the influence of such forces as thrust, wind resistance, and gravity, esp the curved path of a projectile I blame Pastor Steve McCoy of 360 Church for making my head [...]
[video] defining thankfulness
![[video] defining thankfulness](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/defining-thankfulness-150x150.jpg)
What does it mean to be thankful? What does thankfulness look like? How does an attitude of thankfulness impact our actions and our lives? This short video from IgniterMedia.com attempts to define what thankfulness looks like for the Christian. What does it look like in your life?
complacency and counting your blessings [the heart of thanksliving]
![complacency and counting your blessings [the heart of thanksliving]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/count-your-blessings-150x150.jpg)
OK, so yesterday I started off by saying that one of the keys to a heart of Thanksliving is learning the secret of contentment. Today for Thanksgiving, I want to share with you two other quick thoughts: First, it’s about Kicking Complacency. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of [...]
contentment [the heart of thanksliving]
![contentment [the heart of thanksliving]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/contentment-150x150.jpg)
I started off yesterday asking some pretty serious questions of myself when it comes to my attitude around Thanksgiving. I want to have the right attitude, not only on Thursday, but year round. So if that’s the case, I need to be reminded of a few things that I picked up on in 1 Timothy [...]
the heart of thanksliving
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it got me wondering if I’m a pretty ungrateful person. The reason I need to pose that question is because when I reflect on my prayer life, am I the kind of person who spends a fair amount of time counting my blessings, or is it really a once [...]
be careful, they break very easy…
A couple of months ago we went to see the Houston Astros play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Our youngest daughter, Zhenya, doesn’t know anything about baseball. She didn’t care that the Astros had firmly established their position in last place of their conference by winning only a third of their games, and even if they win [...]
[reverend fun] that was awesome!
![[reverend fun] that was awesome!](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/reverend-fun-10-17-2011-150x150.jpg)
19-20 At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?” 21-22 ”O king, live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the [...]
the hard work of forgiveness [part three]
![the hard work of forgiveness [part three]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/sisters-150x150.jpg)
Now, where do we go from here? You’ve done the hard work of forgiving a person who wounded you. You’ve worked towards peace while promoting reconciliation, which is forgiveness between two people. Now you make a choice to release the relationship, or move forward building a new foundation of trust. It is not easy. It is [...]
pages removed
Night nestles around my home. Day has finally given up its light to make room for the stars and the moon. The sounds of the city settling are drowned out by silence, and peace descends as I ready for sleep. Slipping into bed, I pull out my leather diary and open it, laying it on [...]
the hard work of forgiveness [part two]
![the hard work of forgiveness [part two]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/mushroom-150x150.jpg)
“The only thing that takes more work, tears and sweat than division is reconciliation.” – Shane Claiborne You are not sure where to begin. You’ve forgiven another person’s words, actions and misdeeds, but you can not decide if you want them in your life anymore. There are so many parts of being together that you find life-draining, [...]
when evil almost wins
One would assume the older one gets, the easier it is to be good. At least that’s what I used to think. But after the last month, I’m convinced it only gets more difficult and I’m embarrassed to sit here writing this to you because the words I write are suppose to encourage, to be [...]
the hard work of forgiveness [part one]
![the hard work of forgiveness [part one]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/forgiveness1-150x150.jpg)
I had bruised her heart and battered our friendship without reason, other than the immature excuse: “That was what everyone else was doing.” When it finally came time to back away from that swirling group of toxic and all of the same accusations and actions of hate were thrown my direction, I finally understood what [...]
second place
When I was a freshman in high school I joined the track team and signed up to run the two-mile. I chose that event for one reason: I figured the distance would scare away most of the competition. And I was right. While the lanes teemed with racers jostling for position in the 220, 440 [...]
how is your environment impacting you? [a @thehighcalling photoplay]
![how is your environment impacting you? [a @thehighcalling photoplay]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/rusty-bracket-150x150.jpg)
Rust. That’s the focus of the current PhotoPlay at The High Calling. In basic terms, rust happens when iron and oxygen react to each other in the presence of water or air moisture. The crazy thing about it is that iron is relatively unaffected when by pure water or dry air. While both are harmless by themselves, [...]
when we are called to assist
Red prisms, beautiful prisms really, splashed on white linoleum. Blood sprayed between my fingers, hitting the kitchen window, and I remember the way it fell smooth, leaving only a watery shimmer behind as the red drops slid closer to the window sill. I laughed. I still remember that laughter. The intense joy that erupted from [...]
dear faraway friend
My purple pen dances across the white, college-ruled page. The smell of the PaperMate ink fills my nostrils as I bend down as close to the paper as I can, somehow feeling as if I can be a part of the purple words I’m scrawling. I pause after my simple introduction paragraph, not completely certain [...]
transforming your [about] page
![transforming your [about] page](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/mirror-150x150.jpg)
Should our lives be static? That seems like a pretty ridiculous question, doesn’t it? The answer to that one is pretty easy… of course not! Especially as Christians, our lives should be dynamic. We should constantly show the change, growth, and restoration that’s happening inside of us through the transforming power of our Lord! Can [...]
i want to know what it means to believe
Somehow I came empty and broken. No, weary is the word. When all has been taken from me and some how I resist the cup in hand able to quench my thirst. ‘There’s healing in your hand’ they say as they watch me die ‘I know but I’m weary now’ I reply with some moist [...]
