Relationships

Be Present – the Greatest Gift

It’s 11am, 4 days into our 5 day getaway, a break from life that was way overdue but also will be far too short. We will pack up tomorrow not only the clothes we brought, the wheelchair I now need and finally used almost all the time but also the memories of what I can only describe as what my marriage should have been every day for the last 37 years. Sadly, it has not been like this. I understand that not every day can be a holiday, but every day can be a great joy. I can face all that comes my way with God and my wife, the only person that I would ever want to face the good and more often the bad things that just are life.

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When It Hurts Too Much For God

Sometimes it seems that my hurt is too much for God. I know that no theology supports this conclusion. I know that the messages I have heard in no way mirror this idea. I know that the Christians in my life would never propose this as even close to a biblical truth. Still, it seems possible, maybe even true, because sometimes it feels like my pain is too much for God.

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Taking an Acts to the Church

No, I didn’t spell the title wrong. Yes, I could have spelt Acts “Ax” and gave it a perfectly suited title for this post at least. Yes, for some I also could have used the word “Ask” and while the meaning would be different unlike the interchangeability I am aiming for between “Acts” and “AX” if read out loud the same word would be heard, acts or ax. It’s time to rethink church by taking Acts to it which, if my premise is accepted, we will take an ax to many of the things we call church.

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Guilt, A Useless Emotion?

I am not sure where I heard it said that guilt is a useless emotion. It could have been the always brilliant and insightful daytime talk show hosts. Maybe it was a talk radio interview. It also could have been a TV drama or a blockbuster movie. All I know is it seemed to make sense at the time. I am follower of Christ. I’m sure it wasn’t a Christian source but still I am forgiven and my sins are as far as the east is from the west ( Psalm 103:12NIV)so guilt must be a useless emotion, right?

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Bad Theology Leads to Good Living

I have made the decision to live out bad theology in an attempt to please God. This sentence in itself might be considered bad theology. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) and yet I appear to be substituting a way of living for faith. This is only the beginning of me messing with theology. Worse still, I hope I can convince you to live out the same bad theology, to please God by substituting my thesis way of living.

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Is Jordan Peterson a Christian?

I get this question often from people who know I enjoy reading books by and listening to, Dr. Peterson (even Maps of Meaning – way out of my league but I am enjoying it). If you do not know who he is, a quick search will reveal his many accomplishments and controversies. I would consider him one of our greatest modern-day philosophers. Dr. Peterson is a licensed psychologist (for now) and a best-selling author. His YouTube videos give us a glimpse into his thought process. For most of us a glimpse is all we can handle! He has a command of the English language that in itself, can describe everyday events with such depth that you might even believe you can touch, taste, see and smell them as he speaks. Not to be outdone by his vocabulary is his willingness and rarely matched ability to process the many layers of who we are and why we are that way on an individual and societal level. With this description, I do not believe I have even scratched the surface and I don’t believe I can. With that being said, I am still willing to attempt to address his Christ following status although I still may only scratch the surface!

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