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

go with your gut

I was sitting in a coffee shop on Sunday, and a young lady sat next to me on the sofa. The place was packed and that was the only other seat open. She asked if she could sit and I smiled and nodded. I continued my business, trying to give the impression that it was no big deal that this cute girl just sat next to me. It wasn't a big deal, after all it happens every day. Right... Though it appeared to be the case, that was not the case. For about an hour or so I could not focus on what I was doing. I was constantly thinking about what I will say in order to strike up a conversation, find out her "status", and make a decision whether to ask her out or not. So I sat nervously thinking about what to say. It wasn't that hard, because she was feverishly grading what appeared to be homework, as if she was a teacher. So at a natural transition in my business I asked, "Are you a teacher?" That was that. She was kind and responded as if not to be bothered by my questi

what is it?

God, Is it proper to approach you first with a heavy heart? Or rather should I come confessing your goodness and love and holiness even if I don't feel like it? When I come with such a desperate heaviness it is hard to confess with my lips what I know to be true of you in my heart. I have read about your every-day-new-mercy, but I have also read your servant David and have seen how you accepted his groanings when he lay on the floor in despair over the heaviness in his soul. From where my heaviness arises I cannot with full confidence say, though I know my sin and its subsequent guilt are ever-present before my eyes. Though I rest in your forgiveness I tremble when I think of my hearts willful disobedience to what is righteous, to what pertains to wholeness. I know my heart and its vileness and evil, I know what hides in the shadows from the eyes of my friends. But here is my despair: that I yearn yet I do not know what for. There is a strange and dark cloud alive over me with a mi

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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