Posts Tagged ‘faith’
Day 01: Becoming Human
A few days ago my friend Mikayla asked how I’m doing. “Ya know, it is what it is,” I replied. Because apparently I am a curmedgeonly old man from Kansas, in an angsty low-budget film. But then I elaborated: “Grief is a long road. Healing is a slow process. Fall is beautiful. Winter is scary.…
Read MoreDo You Ever Miss It?
A few nights ago the following message popped up on my screen, from a friend who’s walked a few of the same paths I have. I read these words quickly, and found in them a voice that sounds unmistakably familiar. Sometimes I don’t know whether or not I’m losing my mind, but at least it’s…
Read MoreI Will Be Afraid
“When I walk through the Valley of Shadows, I will not be afraid.” That’s what the Psalmist said, but me? I’m not that bold. I have a confession: When I walk through the Valley of Shadows, I will be afraid. When I walk through the Valley of Shadows, I will wake up screaming in the…
Read MoreA Prayer from the Valley
“He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” – Psalm 23 but surely there must be some mistake. don’t you see? I trusted you to guide me along right paths, god you…
Read MoreHow Not to Discover God’s Will For Your Life
I came across some bullshit today. And by “bullshit”, I mean a few pages from the “Wisdom Booklets” that were the core part of Bill Gothard’s homeschooling curriculum. I had three thoughts when I read this bullshit: “I remember this. Exactly. I remember reading this. I remember believing this.” and then “Oh. No wonder I…
Read MoreBelieve With All Your Heart, Mind, and Strength
This is a guest post from Rev. Jennifer Crumpton, author of the new devotional book Femmevangelical: The Modern Girl’s Guide to the Good News. I’ll let her introduce herself: I am a progressive, liberal Christian minister in New York City who was raised a fundamentalist evangelical Southern Baptist in Birmingham, AL. It’s been a long road,…
Read MoreConfessions of a Reluctant Christian
“Tell me your story,” he said. Where should I start? “Start at the beginning.” So I did. I think I was about eight years in when he stopped me. “Wait, you’re still a Christian, after all that? You realize that’s a miracle, right?” Yes. And yes. /// They always say that, when they pull up…
Read MoreKeep Walking
I want to show you my new tattoo. Like the words scrawled across my chest, this one splashed down my left arm is all red and black and full of hope. But in order to tell you about this tattoo, I need to tell you a story. /// It was December, the month that would never…
Read MoreWrite Like You Talk
Yesterday a friend asked me what I thought about writing personal vs. objective blog posts. Should you try to strike a balance between connecting with your audience and sharing your story? It’s a question that lurks in the back of every blogger’s mind (probably) when we’re hunched over a coffee-shop table pounding the keys and procrastinating on Twitter.…
Read MoreDear Christianity, I Have a Few Questions
Dear Christianity, We’ve been together a while now. My whole life, to be exact. I know we’ve had our hard times, our breakups and makeups and are-we-going-to-make-it stretches, but you’re still my religion. So I have a few questions for you. I’ve been seeing a therapist lately. (Don’t worry — it’s not you, it’s me.)…
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