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Discipline
I have a dirty secret to share: I hate discipline. No, I’m not talking about getting paddled or disciplining someone else. (I don’t particularly like those either, but that’s beside the point.) In fact, I’m not talking punitive discipline at all. I’m talking about structure, routine, focus. And I hate it. Well, okay, that’s not true. I admire it. For some people like my wife, self-discipline seems to come naturally. She sets reasonable goals and meets them in reasonable time. She rather quickly gives in to this internal need to be productive. She has to be convinced to waste time and money. She follows through on anything she sets her…
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Living for an Audience of One
Have you ever heard of the idea of “living for an audience of one?” I have. In fact, I helped lead a college group by that name (“A One” for short) from 2001-2008. We were there before Big Daddy Weave wrote the song. Booya! Recently I’ve heard the phrase more than usual, so I thought it might be a good time to share some development in my thoughts on the matter. You see, usually when people use this phrase it’s to signify that we live to please God alone and not people. The Bible verse we chose for our group was Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the…
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Let Us Run
What does it mean to become sanctified? How do we become more like Christ? How do we live out the faith that has graciously been given to us? These questions have plagued me for years. There are times when I have given up trying to become a better person, waiting for God to miraculously step in and change me. Just as Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear that I am not saved by works, Galatians 3:2-3 is clear that I am not sanctified by works. So why am I still such a wretch? In Hebrews 12:1, the author gives us two clear commands: throw off everything that hinders and run the race…
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Thanksgiving and Hope
Up until a few weeks ago, I was not excited about Thanksgiving. Truth be told, I have been cynical about holidays in general for years now, which has prompted more than one “this holiday is different” blog or Sunday School lesson in days of yore as I tried to overcome negative attitudes. Rather than follow that pattern again, I’d like to get to the point and simply offer you an expanded view of Thanksgiving, one that follows a pattern I have recently begun applying to all holidays. Maybe there will be nothing here for you except a reminder, but even in this I will be glad. Note: I won’t mind…
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God Can Take It
So I’ve been listening to the accounts of Elijah and Elisha on my ESV audiobook of the Bible, and it suddenly dawned on me that I’ve been tricked. For most of my life I believed that God was worthy of respect, the kind of respect that requires an obedient, humble heart. So far so good. But sometime in my late teens or early 20’s I was told that God doesn’t mind when we get angry with Him. He already knows what’s on your heart, and He’s big enough—He can take it. This seemed wise to me at the time, and I have incorporated this into my life since. As I…