Love your enemies.

How? How am I supposed to love my enemy? I don't want to, nor do they deserve it! Well, thankfully I really don't have any enemies, though I think a few people have it out for me, so I guess technically that makes them my enemy.

I have never really had a hard time getting along with anyone except my older brother, but that was when I was a heartless teenager. Wait, I might not be a teenager, but sometimes I am still heartless. I'm from NY, so I have an excuse.

Christ set out an ethic through his word and life that I am to imitate. But sometimes I want to be a man and stand up for myself, and chew out another person, defend myself, and in the process bring them down. Today was one of those days. I just about lost it at work. It was so bad that I decided I needed to leave. So I left for the day. What happened was not that dramatic, but it was the proverbial "straw." It broke, I left.

I am to love my enemies because God loved me even when I was his enemy. I am to love my enemies because Christ loves them. I am to love my enemies because I love Christ. I am to love my enemies because the infinite love of the cross overcomes the vilest of evil. Always love, love always. It's hard. Christ never said loving your "enemies" would be comfortable. I must remind myself of this every day. God help me to love my enemies.

*Artwork from HERE

You and Whose Army?

America elects a pro-choice candidate and suddenly my fellow Christian brothers and sisters head for the hills screaming the world has come to an end. Are not abortion rates much higher in several other countries? Why aren't we just as concerned about "life" in those countries? America elects an economically progressive candidate and people are screaming "socialism" preparing for a Rapture. (An mid-1800's invention of conservative Christian theology). Doesn't America know that Democracy is one of the youngest political philosophies to be employed? Why do we think the fate of the world depends on the success of our economical and political philosophies? America is struggling economically, and Jesus is now coming back to rescue his 2000 year old church from this difficult tribulation. Doesn't America remember that its only 232 years old? Why does God's blessing equate with monetary blessing? Why do American Christians constantly tie the end of the ...

Pastor Or Theologian?

I received a facebook message from a long-lost college friend and roommate the other day. In his cordial greeting he noted, and correctly, that I had just graduated with a Masters in Theology. I really appreciated the recognition and congratulations, but what bothered me was his next question. He asked if I was "going to be a Pastor or a Theologian?" I laughed, not because I thought the answer to the question was obvious, but because of the fact that he dichotomized the two disciplines as mutually exclusive. My first reaction was to respond with a smart alec remark about his ignorance and misconstrued views of Christianity and its relationship to education, but then I had to stop and remember that he graduated from the same undergraduate institution which I graduated from, and probably, like me, attended a 'fundy' church growing up. Reminding myself of this context cooled me off a bit and I kindly responded that I would hope someday to do both. Nonetheless, what his ...

Three Questions

Q1. If you were to be in ministry 10 years from now (whether you're in ministry now or not) what would you like to be doing and where? Q2. If you could wake up tomorrow with a degree and all the learning that would have gone with it from any seminary which one would you pick and why? Q3. What's your poison: donuts, beer, wine, pizza, chocolate, twinkies, key-lime pie? 1. In my crazy mind I see myself either A) functioning in a ministerial role (non-denominational or denominational?) or B) functioning in an educational administrative role in a Christian School (high school or college?) 2. Truett Seminary (Baylor University) because I would like to study Christian History with D. H. Williams. 3. Djarum Blacks (literally, they're killing me...) I tag: Matt Woodard Patrick Mitchell Ethan Welch Joel Reemstma

Artifacts of a Life Once Lived

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