This was originally posted at Modern March Bishop Jakes, Let me first commend you on your acceptance to join the furnace that is the Elephant Room. You have taken a lot of heat over the years from pastors and theologians of all ilks, and you have handled it rather gracefully just as you did today. Perhaps the greatest compliment that one can give you is that humility does not seem to be something that you struggle with. At 22, I felt the Damascus Road calling to ministry and dropped everything that I was doing to pursue ministry. This led me to start school over and begin a Biblical … [Read more...] about Open Letter to T.D. Jakes
Devotional Posts
A Pattern for Prayer, Courtesy of O.S. Hawkins
As much as I love what E.M. Bounds wrote about the need for prayer, I have three faults with his writings on the subject. First, chapters tend to repeat the same ideas. He ends up saying the same thing over and over without actually advancing beyond his main idea for many pages. Second, he fails to define what he means by "prayer." Does he mean a constant monologue to God? Does he mean a time of solely spending time with God through talking to Him, quietly reflecting on Him or His Word, reading His Word, singing--what? Third, and related to that second fault, I don't recall having found in his … [Read more...] about A Pattern for Prayer, Courtesy of O.S. Hawkins
And Still We Try to Reason Why
It’s okay to question why. It’s okay to even cry. Don’t ever hesitate to try. God will answer; He won’t lie. There’s no answer He won’t know. There’s no place He will not go. There’s no path He will not show. God will answer; He loves you so. No question lies within your mind. That God cannot in love unwind. That’s how we’ve all been so designed. To seek from Him what we can’t find. In His answers lies our peace. In His words, we find release. Our search can end, our troubles cease. It all begins with show me . . . please. It’s okay to question why. It’s okay to even … [Read more...] about And Still We Try to Reason Why
You are not alone in the woods
Back on the New Year's Resolutions post, I told Dave I'd try to write more for Voices. Well, more than my recent stream of goofy and non-serious comments. I might dig up something controversial to help with the blog traffic, but for now the most controversial I'll get is gun ownership and responsible wildlife management. These past few months, I've been spending a good part of my time in the early mornings or late afternoons sitting on the edge of farm fields at rest, waiting for certain forest animals to make their appearance. The plan, of course, is to shoot one of the deer when they come … [Read more...] about You are not alone in the woods
Musings on Resolutions (updated)
This post is modified from one that appeared two years ago on sbcIMPACT. “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.” Thus begins the list of Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions, written prior to his fame or the Great Awakening, at the end of his Master’s studies. I seldom if ever write out resolutions for the New Year. I fear I’ll give up or forget partway through January, merely calling criticism on myself for failing to … [Read more...] about Musings on Resolutions (updated)
“Pleased as man with men to dwell”
This line from the song “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is one of my favorites from all Christmas songs. This line, from a later verse of the song, speaks of Christ in a rather poetic (and memorable) fashion that makes the ear tingle and the heart raise. I think one of the reasons why hymns have been losing their edge in public worship, besides the style of music itself, is the work it takes to understand them. Just singing the words “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see” is impossible to understand without a thinking brain rearranging the words to get: “See the Godhead veiled in … [Read more...] about “Pleased as man with men to dwell”
New Years Resolutions
Happy New Year! Have you ever noticed how, right after the holidays, all the fitness centers start advertising on television to cash in on all those who make New Year’s resolutions to get fit? For some reason the start of a new year inspires the world much more than just the start of a new month, or even a new week. Not that making healthy changes about anything is bad, but resolutions (as the world makes them) are the stuff of man-made moralism anyway. The right perspective to have is the one God gives us. In Lamentations 2:22,23 we read, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His … [Read more...] about New Years Resolutions
Christmas and the King of Kings
I wrote this Advent-related post for the church I serve. “The Lord is King forever and ever…” Psalm 10:16 It is not enough to think of Jesus as King of the world by virtue of creation. It is crucial to think of Him also as the coming King of God’s People. That has two things that need to be considered: the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of God. To consider, first of all, the Kingship of God over Israel, we must look back at the Old Testament. Beginning with Exodus, we see God as the King of Israel in opposition to Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Pharaoh has oppressed the Israelites and … [Read more...] about Christmas and the King of Kings
Another Blind Eye to a Small Boy’s Cry
(Note: Once again, little ones have gone unprotected, with small boys victimized by both the twisted and broken and the blind and indifferent. I was sexually- abused decades ago, at the age of 8. No victim ever forgets. For the hope of the Penn State small boys and other children being abused, often despite the awareness of others who look the other way, I'm sharing my story here. If you are aware of a child predator, please speak up. Silence truly like a cancer grows.) The little one who smiles and hides the pain Lets tears fall when he plays out in the rain. The innocence … [Read more...] about Another Blind Eye to a Small Boy’s Cry
“Who Told You You Were Naked?”
One of the most discouraging aspects of battling a deeply-internalized sexual issue or other commanding presence of repetitive sin is that, even after you face it, fight it, and deprive it, something in that deep-internal goes right back to work to revive it. You choke it, pound it, bury it, surrender it and then, before you know it, you're back under it. You toss it out the window on your journey to freedom and about the time you peek in the rear-view mirror, it's splatting on the windshield. I've heard of . . . and would like to shake the hand of -- some people who faced-down the … [Read more...] about “Who Told You You Were Naked?”