Tag: Love
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When the Game Slows Down
My orientation into chaplaincy has begun. Who knew orientation could feel so disorienting? While inundated with information, it is amazing how many golden nuggets of truth and wisdom I have received in a weeks time. One statement I am fixated on, even though I have not yet visited a single patient is this: “The game…
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What do I do with these blank pages?
In 2010 I wrote to be funny, more specifically I wrote comedic fiction for a class to counterbalance writing my thesis on Islamic extremism in Southern Russia and what exactly that looked like. But what I was most proud of is a story called the Cheesebringer, which was a dumb coming of age story about…
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Saint Listener and Hearing Different
If you are looking for a good cry, I would suggest seeing “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the new Mr. Rogers documentary. If you’ve been wanting to feel like you’re endeavor to love and to be a compassionate human being falls far short of perfection, I’d also suggest watching the movie. What I found most…
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The Catching Gospel: Assured to Shore
John 21:1-14 – The Dive-in Depths It never ceases to surprise me how quick I am to stumble, how at such arbitrary times our struggle with sin seems to affect us and leaves us without excuse. I am prone to wavering in my affection and in those moments I feel as if I forget myself.…
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The Gospel of Life: Believe
John 20: 24-31 – Let God Show Me “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A disciple, Thomas, states what it takes for him to believe. Jesus waits a week, then appears to Thomas even…
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The Appearing Gospel: Look Who Showed Up
John 20: 1-23 – Stay in Awe When was the last time you stood in awe or wonder of something? When was the last time something left you dazed and confused? In the Gospel of John chapter 20, individuals are still living in the shock and shadow of the death of Jesus. Early, on the…
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The Finishing Gospel: Death of the Saves Man
John 19:16-42 – Are We Living or Dying? Yesterday, I taught my second to last class on the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). We discussed the crucifixion and the resurrection. What is interesting to me about John’s gospel is the things he notes about Jesus during the crucifixion. Jesus is deeply concerned for his mother.…
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Trading the 2nd Amendment for the 2nd Commandment
John 18:11, Matthew 26:52-54, Luke 22:49-51 Our Swords are Our Guns and It’s Time to Put Them Away I’m not writing specifically about the 2nd amendment. And my intention here is not to lobby for change in the political arena. I don’t like loud yelling, whistle blowing or things that divide people unless it is…
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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…
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Imagination Love
The romance you require is rote it is more stable than whimsical perhaps more ideal and less physical mine does not need to emote I confuse necessity with reality whats real to me isn’t necessarily ideal. These dreams proceed warily the exact and fact don’t appeal to me I’ve held onto every fiber of…
The Reconstructed 