What Do Your Scars Show?

21 Oct , 2020 No Comments

I attended the Men’s Challenge at Central Christian Church last weekend. They had an opening contest to see who in the room had the craziest scar. I saw things that night that I’ll never be able to unsee, like how one guy moved something inside part of his leg with his finger. Thankfully, I’ll likely never learn the story of that thing.

The winner—unanimously cheered to victory—stood with one artificial leg and scars covering his other leg. By his quick recounting of a horrendous motorcycle accident, he likely shouldn’t be alive. It was a scar to celebrate.

It’s interesting how a bit of context can change the way you view a scar. I doubt the winner of the scar competition is hesitant to talk about how his body is now permanently marked. It’s a story of life that he carries with him. Yet we don’t always view our scars that way.

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The Most Profound Question for Voting

14 Oct , 2020 No Comments

I’ve been praying through what I should do with my vote this election. I don’t feel any obligation to vote one party or another, nor do I feel an obligation to vote. That’s because neither political party fully embodies the values of the Kingdom of God. My allegiance to Jesus allows me to navigate my personal involvement with the government as a citizen of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). As just one example, my stance on being pro-life from the womb to the tomb (which I get from Jesus) puts me at odds with different parts of each party. This has meant that in the past there were times I voted Republican, times I voted Democrat, and times I intentionally chose not to vote.

I don’t decide how to vote until after I’ve prayed over it and felt peace with the result (I’d highly recommend this rather than assuming one option only). Recently, I’ve found much clarity in thinking through one question in particular.

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Bible Enneagram

Bible Enneagram

08 Oct , 2020 No Comments

Like most people, I’ve taken a number of personality tests over the years. One of my favorites is called the Enneagram. While I don’t necessarily hold the same passion for it that many in the Christian community do (I’ve never done a sermon series on it), I find it helpful. More than the obvious strengths and weaknesses, it shows you what you look like when you are healthy, when you are stressed, and when you are unhealthy. The goal isn’t to be a different number, it’s to be the healthiest version of yourself.

My friend Tyler recently asked me what numbers I’d guess for different people in the Bible. It’s a fun mental exercise that challenges both your Biblical understanding as well as your understanding of the Enneagram system. For those of you who are familiar with the nine different personality types, I give you my very subjective list with an example or two for each number:

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2020 Reading List 3/4

2020 Reading List 3/4

02 Oct , 2020 No Comments

Contrary to how it may feel, we are actually moving our way THROUGH 2020. A lot has happened. Now at the 75% mark, it’s time to get ready for decorations for the holidays. Our family is back in Arizona this year which means we won’t get to enjoy all the changing trees that have dazzled us in recent years.

Here are the books I’ve read since January of 2020 with my rating for them (5 being the best) along with a brief review. Any book without a number rating has been given to me by the author or publisher.

In addition to this list, you might also check out:

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Misquoted Verses of the Bible (Lk. 22:36)

16 Sep , 2020 No Comments

This post is part of a series looking at misquoted verses of the Bible. Click here to see others.

I decided to dust off an older series and share my take on a significant passage that is often misquoted. I’m prompted to blog this after I recently received an email from someone asking for help understanding this passage.

The misquoted passage says: “If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!” (Luke 22:36).

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Life is in the Transitions

09 Sep , 2020 No Comments

Just when I thought this year couldn’t get any crazier, my wife and I spent last night checking our evacuation status. Oregon—along with much of the west coast—is burning in unprecedented ways. It was the first time we began preparing supplies to actually flee our home. Many people have already had to do just this. I even saw a notice on Amazon today that I’ve never seen before: “Extended delivery time due to weather in your area.”

Really 2020? At some point we wonder when a sense of normal will ever return. Here is some good news for you: you don’t need to wait for normal.

As I shared recently, our family is moving back to Arizona (see: Family Update). That means we are in the middle of one of the biggest unexpected life transitions we’ve yet experienced. But 2020 has reminded us that ALL OF US are in the process of transitions.

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