Michael Perkins‘ posts about his son cause me to reminisce about my own children when they were at that age. In fact, I am almost jealous that I don’t have that time back so I can enjoy the unfettered affection of my children. But, God blessed me with a father-son story of my own, today. My son, now 18, is leaving today to visit some friends in another city. We banter back and forth all the time with sarcasm and “picking” on one another – it’s our “schtick.” This morning I had the door closed as I was getting dressed for work. He tells me through the door that he is leaving. I responded in haste (while putting on my pants) with, “OK.” I heard silence, then, “um… ok… um…” In our typical bantering style, I quipped back, “What’s the matter? You need a good-bye hug from your old...
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At our church, we have faithfully maintained a prayer chapel as our mid-week “service” for adults. Please read about this “service” at this link, because today’s post depends on a familiarity with what we’re doing during “prayer chapel”. I’ll have to admit that it has not been easy to continue doing this. The attendance is really low. It is “odd” compared to our Sunday worship. And, I think people just don’t get it. Many times I’ve been tempted to turn it into a bible study or something. But, God reminds me of His call for Thrive to be known as a house of prayer. 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and...
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The “thoughts” I share with you today originally came to mind during a mission trip to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona / New Mexico. While there, I sensed a spirit of overwhelming powerlessness in the people. In exchange for peace, the US government promised the Navajo that all of their needs will forever be met. Some say the we’ve been too successful in our promise, breaking the spirit of the Navajo, eroding their sense of self-empowerment, relegating their sense of creativity to artworks that they can sell to tourists. They live, by and large, in relative poverty, learning to rely on the government for food, shelter and education, and make little effort at self-advancement. It is a culture of survival – “existence” rather than “truly living.” 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him...
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Here’s this week’s “friday.folio,” a hat-tip to some of the things I’ve read the past week that surprised / encouraged / challenged me. 1. “The Nowism of Grace” is an article by Paul Tripp at “Desiring God.” We can easily see the beauty of the Gospel for Salvation and Eternity – but what about the in-between? Do you live as if you have been saved by Grace? 2. “Inklings” is a post by Ryan Tate at “Doorframes of TaterHouse.” Ryan explores how God sustains us through things by simple, yet profound, reminders and glimpses of Grace through community with one another. 3. “God Uses Blogs And Twitter” is a post with a story, by Michael Perkins at “Untitled.” Michael shares how relationships made on twitter eventually facilitated a movement of God in a person. I won’t spoil it any further. 4. “Devotional on the Psalms” is an entry by...
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I love to fish, and if there is one thing fisherman do well, it’s exaggerating. The “fish-tale” is a common idiom for exaggeration of an actual event. I used to fish a lot more than I do now, but when I did, my friends and I would call each other to brag about the day’s fishing. Inevitably a potential whopper that suspends belief would spew out. You’ve said it: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Other variations are, “photograph of it or it didn’t happen,” and “where’s the vid?” Sometimes we hear things that seem so outrageous that we just can’t believe it until we see it. Our eyes and ears must have mutual confirmation for us to believe it. So, we demand proof. 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in...
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