authentic christianity

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  [god in the yard] introduction

  authentic christianity, book reviews, life of worship, spiritual practice 6 comments

  “This is the story of an unusual year, when I did something I never intended to do. But it is also a course in discovery and playing towards God, through spiritual practice, offered with gentle expectations.” ~ L.L. Barkat Some of the best growth we can experience is completely unintended. [...]

   
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  god in the yard [group blogging project]

  authentic christianity 9 comments

  Some books are just done best in community. And I believe L.L. Barkat’s God in the Yard: Spiritual practice for the rest of us is one of those books. It’s practically a handbook for personal communion with God, and it calls for a response from the reader. That’s why we [...]

   
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  [epistle of james] chapter 5

  authentic christianity, bible literacy 3 comments

  Read James 5 (NASB, ESV, MSG) I’m watching a line form in the foyer. My belly is swollen 8 months large over our third child. It’s the annual church camping trip sign-ups. The line is getting long as I watch the early birds select their campsites. If you invite a friend, [...]

   
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  [epistle of james] chapter 4

  authentic christianity, bible literacy, worldviews 3 comments

  Read James 4 (NASB, ESV, MSG) Like any good sermon, James starts out with a glowing introduction; terms like ‘brothers,’ ‘dear brothers,’ and ‘dearly loved brothers,’ dominate every line of thought for the first chapter. Further into the book, however, the terms ‘dear’ and ‘beloved’ are dropped, and the triumphant [...]

   
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  [epistle of james] chapter 3

  authentic christianity, bible literacy 5 comments

  Read James 3 (NASB, ESV, MSG) I open my Bible, the one with pages reading like a colorful map of my life these past five years. Its binding worn, its self-made tabs nearly unneeded after so much traveling to and fro through its precepts, His story. Ours. I’m grateful for [...]

   
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  in the practice of stopping

  authentic christianity, engaged in culture, ministry 7 comments

  Why didn’t they stop? I wondered that years ago when my world crumbled like old Roman architecture. Business meetings continued; church continued; chores wouldn’t wait; and the world continued fast and furious, in a hurry, always late, and I wanted to throw up my hands and yell, “I”m in pain. [...]

   
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  [epistle of james] chapter 2

  authentic christianity, bible literacy, worldviews 12 comments

  Read James 2 (NASB, ESV, MSG) when i was kid growing up in the church, the ushers to me were like the royal guard. they were the gate keepers and they were definitely intimidating. all except the one who handed out tootsie rolls to the kids. he was awesome! he [...]