I was at the pool with my daughter after her swim lesson, and I usually just do a few random exercises on the deck while she’s in her lesson or playing. Wall handstands, push-ups, squats, that sort of thing. Well, a lifeguard saw me and asked if I was into calisthenics. We started talking, and…
Category: faith
What Does The Baptism of Christ Mean?
Image sources: DesiringGod.org, Bonnellart.com. Artist: Daniel Bonnell I was reading my Bible plan on youversion the other day when it led me to the baptism of Christ. I’d never thought much of the event before, but this time it stood out. Why did Jesus submit to baptism? There are two parts to this answer we…
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community
It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren. Let me say that this statement contains a useful summary of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer believes to be the essence of Christian life, lived for the purpose of building up others in Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes this in the…
What’s behind the door?
Imagine that you were standing in front of a door that had everything you have ever desired or wanted behind it. If you were told you could have everything behind the door, would you be able to open it? This is one of the illustrations James K.A. Smith uses when he tries to convince us…
Why is it so hard to find a church? The old wine is good…
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting different results. Jesus puts it this way: Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with…
Why am I afraid to #RunRichmond?… I’m afraid of the process #RealLifeRealFit
I will start training to get #RichmondReady next week. This weekend, I’ll be preparing my training plan and looking over my calendar for the next three months or so to identify the problematic spots of the training cycle. I’m ready to #RunRichmond, but I have to get over my fear of failure before I’ll be…
Love Redeems: Reflections on Crime and Punishment
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to read fiction, and I like to at least read one every few months to make sure that my heart remains full and refreshed. I read plenty of narrative prose for my research and day job, and I read plenty of prose for learning about Christ…
Henri Nouwen on Obedience
To be obedient means to be constantly attentive to this active presence and to allow God, who is only love, to be the source as well as the goal of all we think, say, and do. Henri Nouwen, Spiritual Direction (2006)