Category: Identity
-
The Cutting Gospel: Separating the Should and Should Not
John 18:1-27- Imagine the Divine Impulse Have you ever been disappointed in yourself after acting on impulse? Considering how frequently in the Gospels Peter acts on impulse, I imagine he was disappointed in himself often. But I am convinced that our impulsive action in ignorance does not disappoint God as much as it disappoints us.…
-
The Praying Gospel: Are you Curious?
John 17 – We are all 20-year old gypsy train wrecks We made it this far. The last large exposition from Jesus in the Gospel of John is one long prayer. It is a prayer for glorification, a prayer for the disciples, and a prayer for contagious joy and complete unity among all who will…
-
The Overcoming Gospel: Are you Over?
John 16 John 16 is the 3rd of 4 chapters of very long expositions from Jesus. This chapter in particular, deals with Jesus leaving. He is explaining to his followers that when He leaves, the Holy Spirit will come and fill them. The Spirit will also give them knowledge. Then he talks about not being…
-
The Betrayal and Denial Gospel: When you “Can’t” Control Yourself
John 13:18-38: Shared Bread Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned (lifted up their heel) against me. The thing about betrayal, the thing about denial that allows both of them to deal damage is intimacy. Truth be told, I give as much credence to ridicule or…
-
Whirlwind Emprise
I usually like to pick a word for myself that I hope will describe each new year. My 2017 word was gentleness. I picked this word because I knew my goal for the year was to cease from striving, to stop grasping, to accept my smallness in the world and to be considerably less frustrated…
The Reconstructed 