reflections

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It is Right to Give Him Thanks and Praise

I was a first-time visitor at a church today that seems to be a unique blend of at least two traditions (or non-traditions) that I’ve had experience with in the past. When I connect with assembled Christians for worship, message and communion, typically for me (and like most believers) we are (or should be) listening and searching for something that personally connects us to Jesus in a deeper, meaningful way. We are looking for some substantive something. For me, it...

Contrasts and Wise Counsel

I’ve been heavily in the Psalms and Proverbs this week. It began last weekend with a series of seemingly God-prompted thoughts and some snippets of a certain Psalm that entered my mind. Continuing in prayerful thoughts and contemplations, one Psalm seemed to lead into another that somehow came to my attention through various means. By Tuesday evening, I began listening on Audible to the entire collection of Psalms from the beginning, on into Proverbs. Then, starting it again. And again....

It Wasn’t Supposed To Be There

There are always a number of ways to look at some event, especially when we are searching for meanings and reasons why. I intended to write this piece shortly after the event, which was a Saturday evening back in December. In fact, it was around 4:30 the evening of December 3. I can easily determine that date by looking back at a text with someone. I had finished up my Open Studio wreath-making party that day, and was planning to...

Decatur Distance

Thirteen years ago if someone had told me I would live in Decatur, Alabama I would have not only had to look at a map to see where it was, I would not have believed them. Thirteen years from now, if God gives me the good fortune to see that day, I will probably remember Decatur, Alabama almost like the back of my hand.It can feel emotionally jarring at times, like some time-turned-tornado of my internal world. There are places...

Wounds Yet Visible

I grow weary of noticing those with forms of pseudo-christianese-toxic-positivity “faith” misappropriate not only scriptures but otherwise generally true statements. Generally we know what we see, but often the nature of twisting things and true gaslighting can render us unable to tersely articulate what we just witnessed. We may ask ourselves what the goal is of someone who does such things. And that is likely both clear and cloudy–both obvious and hidden. Which only exasperates the confounding of such seemingly...