Category: Practical Theology
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Discipleship Principles
Read more: Discipleship Principles1. Discipleship is about a Relationship Michael Wilkins has defined a disciple of Jesus as one who “has come to Jesus for eternal life, has claimed Jesus as Savior and God, and has embarked upon the life of following Jesus.”[1] His very presence in my life and his promise to never leave nor…
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The Giving Word: a Reflection
Read more: The Giving Word: a Reflection“For this we labor and strive…” God is a giver. So much of Christian belief and action rests on this elementary observation that it is almost shameful to put into words. God’s gifts of grace and mercy are daily refreshed (Lam 3:22-23), and the gifted grace of Christ Jesus is held as the defining “giving”…
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A Birthday Thank You To My Parents:
Read more: A Birthday Thank You To My Parents:I celebrated my 26th birthday this last Saturday. And, though I am a little freaked out by the fact that I am now officially closer to 30 than to 20, on the whole I can only feel a deep sense of thankfulness: I am thankful to be 26, to have lived another year in the…
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Gracious Light
Read more: Gracious LightIt can all come to feel so mundane. Established. Foreseeable. So taken for granted. It’s a given. The daily commute. The workday. The repetition. All the hours, and things that we will do in them and see in them mapped out. We come to feel a certain predictability in our routines. We know what we’ll…
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The Paradoxical Gospel
Read more: The Paradoxical GospelI don’t remember ever saying this, but here goes. I’ve never been more confident of my salvation. I’ve never felt so secure. I’ve never been so satisfied in Christ. And yet, at the same time, I’m more aware of my sin, ready to acknowledge it, even willing to tell people about it. Sound like a…
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10 Lessons From 10 Days of Fatherhood
Read more: 10 Lessons From 10 Days of Fatherhood1. Women are Manly There is nothing like hearing a midwife say “push” at the beginning of a contraction, watching your wife scream like her leg is being cut off with a blunt saw and knowing that there is nothing you can do about it. Occasionally, I would hear my wife’s pain as she pushed…
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On the Incarnation in the New Year
Read more: On the Incarnation in the New YearI am notorious for listening to Christmas music at any time of year. This produces a gamut of responses from utter disparaging of the thought to confessions of similar behavior. My reason is never an attempt to sustain the festivities long past their due. Rather, I am deeply and profoundly encouraged by the gift we…
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How I Became a Disciple
Read more: How I Became a DiscipleAs the New Year is approaching, I cannot help but to remember my past and stand in awe of God. June 2013 will mark my ten-year anniversary of being a Christian, and August 2013 will bring my 30th birthday! Spending the entirety of my twenties figuring out life as a Christ follower has been challenging,…
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Send Them Well
Read more: Send Them WellA few weeks ago my wife and I were officially appointed as missionaries for a sending agency based out of Orlando Florida. For many, being accepted by a mission agency represents an important milestone on the path to the mission field. In our case, this moment was exciting but it was not the most significant…
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Doubting Wisely
Read more: Doubting WiselyWith the recent tragedy in Connecticut there is reason to doubt. Last friday I was driving in my car listening to talk radio. The entire show was dedicated to the day’s horrific events. At one point the host started to explain that although he is not religious, he is ‘spiritual’. He stated emphatically that he…