"Strengthen the Feeble Hands, Steady the Knees That Give Way."
A Fallen World
Oct 10th
What we mean when we say we live in a fallen world is that it is a world that disappoints. We mean a world that doesn’t always live up to our expectations. It is a world in which even our access to God is mediated. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror …” (1 Corinthians 13:12).” Though we long to know Him as He is, He appears to us as though “in a dense cloud” (Exodus 19:9). What the mystics called “the cloud of unknowing.” He is the hidden God.
The truth is that our understanding too is cloudy. We don’t hear well. We don’t see well. But that does not change our desire to re-make this fallen world. We believe that sometime in the past this world was better. We believe that sometime in the future things will be different. We hope things will be different, and by faith we expect to see it so.
In a fallen world 3-year-old boys are diagnosed with Leukemia. The sense of powerlessness pervades. No one who hears such news thinks, “That’s good.”
We don’t receive such news as though all were well with the world.
No, for this and other such events we have a word—tragic. Continue Reading >>
The Myth of Simplicity (Part 3)
Oct 3rd
If we are to escape this futile desire for the easier answer we must consider the Biblical model of God’s loving grace to His people. God’s blessings were not always easy to bear, were not always easy to see. The truth is the lives of God’s people leave us with complex questions to which there are no easy answers. While it is natural to desire easy answers and quick methods it is more a reflection of our flesh than of the Spirit.
Let’s face it, it is far easier to sell books when you promise people that these steps will lead to their fulfillment or that this method will ease their pain. But I would feel deceptive if I did not face the reality that for most people life is a struggle. For most people life is not easy at all. Most of the world lives in squalor. Most of the world knows daily sorrows.
“Life is pain princess! Anyone who tells you differently is selling something!”*
Life is not exclusively pain and yet it is folly to spend our lives trying to avoid pain. The pain associated with singleness can drive one to distraction but it is only part of the greater Continue Reading >>
New Book Published
The book is finally ready. It is at Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble. I hope it is a blessing to all who read it. Many have written to tell me they printed articles. Now you can curl up to read anywhere. Spread the word.
The Myth of Simplicity (Part 2)
Sep 26th
The myth of simplicity suggests that there should be simple answers, but there are no simple answers. Any wise person will confess that they have come by their wisdom—the hard way. Simple answers are rarely worthy of trust but quickly spoil and rot.
Life is lived in a fallen world among fallen people. We valiantly strive to submit as the Spirit works in us. We diligently press towards our goal of being conformed to the likeness of Christ and we fail—continually (Romans 8:29). We do our best but fail. We strive but stumble. Our relationships exemplify this.
We live in a world of brokenness where there are no easy answers—no simple solutions. Though our hearts crave the explainable there is much that is inexplicable, much that is beyond our ability to categorize or label.
The myth of simplicity arises because, aside from the methods and easy answers, we are face with the notion of faith in an unseen God who makes statements such as, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). We seek easy answers and sure methods, because not only is it possible that God will not change our circumstances, He may also offer no answer save, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Continue Reading >>
