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Blog postWe don’t know when David wrote the song we know as Psalm 139. But we know that David’s life wasn’t a perfect life. He’d killed people and had people killed. He’d made some mistakes with his family. He’d spent part of his life on the run. He even pretended that he was insane once, just to save his live.
And then one day he stops. And he writes this song.
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God?
You know everything there is to know about me. What I think, where I go, what I do, what I say.
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Blog post“Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
Attend to me, and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
because of the noise of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.”
I asked Nancy for a word. “Restless,” she said. It’s possible that she meant “rest-less”, because we’re both pretty tired. I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean “rest less”, because there isn’t currently an overabundance.
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Blog post“How can I help you?” Tim said. We’d been sitting quietly at Lystra Tea Company. The coffee was perfect. The quiet was perfect, too.
Sometimes, it’s hard for me to create a quiet place. I keep moving, keep listening, keep busy, keep distracting. Sometimes it takes someone we trust sitting quietly with us to give us permission to be still.
Eventually, about halfway through the mug, there may be a time to speak, and the right words.Tim had years of service as a pastor and a -
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Blog postFirst published September 10, 2012
Nehemiah was leading a team that was rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. 24 centuries ago, this meant a lot of heavy lifting. It also meant, as it would mean now, a lot of intimidation from the people who would lose influence when the walls had gates to keep them out.
They were mostly bullies, these intimidators. They rattled swords and spread rumors and huffed and puffed. They weren’t able to do much to blow the walls down.
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Blog postI didn’t want to open the door.
I stood with my hand on the door handle, thumb on the latch, and I struggled to push down.
I had visited Lystra Tea Company for several months. I was a regular, I thought. It felt like home. And then my schedule changed. I got wrapped up in projects. I was talking a lot. Too much maybe. And I stopping taking the time to stop and visit with Tim.
I have no idea how long I stood there, hand on the door, mind everywhere else.
Then th -
Blog post(From a reflection on Matthew 6:25-34,)
In this text, Jesus sits on the hillside and takes his time. “Look at the birds,” Jesus says. “Consider the flowers,” he says. “Look at the grass.” And waits. Until everyone is fully attending to the wildflowers in the field. All their heads turn. He waits. The flowers wave. He waits. The people begin to notice the variety. They begin to notice the detail.
Jesus asks three questions:
Isn’t life more that food and cloth -
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Blog postMaybe I should be more factual.
Monday.
We don’t know whether or not it will be happy. And for everyone who says that happiness is a choice, I’d invite you to follow me around the hospital. In some situations, although happiness may be A choice, it’s likely not the best choice.
But I didn’t want to talk about happy. I wanted to talk about why I posted passages from James all last week, and why I didn’t offer commentary.
If you are following the Revised Common L -
Blog postNot many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very s -
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Blog postWhat good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your fai -
Blog postListen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love -
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A Great Work: A Conversation With Nehemiah For People (Who Want To Be) Doing Great Works
Nov 29, 2013
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