While there is great suffering and pain in loss, there is this other level of suffering and pain that comes with the fear of loss. I don’t know where, if anywhere, fear fits into the classic “grief cycle”, but it seems to me to be a potent part of grief, if only we are allowed … Continue reading The Goodness of Grief: Part 2–Breathe Into It
The Goodness of Grief: Part 1–Heart Ache Ain’t No Metaphor
I haven’t blogged in a while because our family is reeling from some really difficult news. Suddenly, reality has shifted. The life as we had known it is gone. And while there is a great deal of hope that we can make it through this thing, we also recognize that we may not come through … Continue reading The Goodness of Grief: Part 1–Heart Ache Ain’t No Metaphor
Older than Dirt: Part 9—It’s Also a Thought that Changed the World
I’ve never been to a U2 concert. There. I’ve said it. Confession is good for the soul. I’ve been to many other concerts put on by artists with immense talent and even significant depth. But I don’t think I’ve experienced the depth of an artist like I did while watching Bono sing on David Letterman. … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 9—It’s Also a Thought that Changed the World
Older than Dirt: Part 8—There Might Be Another Door, and You May Not Like It
People seem to be terrified that Jesus is as loving and forgiving and good as he is made out to be in the accounts of his life. There seems to be a real fear that grace is how the whole thing works, is how the One runs the universe, is the only thing the dirt … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 8—There Might Be Another Door, and You May Not Like It
Older than Dirt: Part 7—Jesus’ Preferential Option for the Party
Sometimes Jesus would be called a “glutton and a drunkard” by those outside his immediate circle. Which tells us one thing: Jesus was probably a lot of fun to be around. Calm down. I’m not suggesting that he was a glutton or that he often found himself inebriated. What I am saying is that … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 7—Jesus’ Preferential Option for the Party
Older than Dirt: Part 6—The Ten Commandments…Aren’t
To date, my wife and I have had only two houseguests that we would have considered challenging. From the moment they entered our home, all they did was eat, keep us up at night, and constantly demand our attention. Never helped with the dishes. Never said thank you. In fact, for the first year, they … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 6—The Ten Commandments…Aren’t
Older than Dirt: Part 5—Try Not to Step in the Blood
If you wanted to make peace with a nearby tribe in the ancient Near East, it usually required spilling a lot of blood. I’m not saying that this should make sense to us now, but somehow it did make sense to them then. Instead of spilling each other’s blood, they would take a few animals, … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 5—Try Not to Step in the Blood
Older than Dirt: Part 4—The Land of the Free
Once when I was driving down a Kentucky road with a double yellow line, a woman tailed me and then flew past me. I did what you should never do: I confronted the woman, “Do you know I have a car seat back here?” “It’s a free country!” was her defense. I hear this defense … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 4—The Land of the Free
Older than Dirt: Part 3—The Age of Grace
For those who follow Jesus and the Way of Jesus, seeing an image of the cross is a sign of forgiveness, of hope, of death defeated. But it wasn’t always that way. Those that would know Jesus before his death would not have believed you if you were to tell them that the Roman cross … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 3—The Age of Grace
Older than Dirt: Part 2—Some Words about Jesus
For the ancient interpreters of the Hebrew Scriptures, wisdom was the ground upon which all dirt was founded. Before a physical thing was formed, there was a “way” put in place upon which all things operated. This “way” was known as “wisdom”. But wisdom was not only seen as a “thing”, but as a personality, … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 2—Some Words about Jesus