A Year of Personal Firsts in 2022
2022 was a challenging, interesting, and fulfilling year for me. I couldn’t have predicted many of the “firsts” that happened, but I’m thankful for all of them.
My Journey
A Man Shall Leave His Father and Mother
On this occasion of my 30th anniversary, I am finding that the most famous pair of Bible verses about marriage means far more to me than I ever thought possible, and it’s not just about marriage. I am called to leave many things, not just my father and mother, as I pursue the Lord and His calling on my life.
A Personal Framework for the Morality of Abortion
I just finished drafting a paper I’ve titled “A Personal Framework For The Morality Of Abortion.” It explores my own studied understanding of the topic.
Come Let Us Mourn and Rejoice TOGETHER
What if the very time we’re supposed to mourn with those who mourn is when we’re rejoicing over the very thing they’re mourning? Or the very time we’re supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice is exactly when we’re mourning the very thing they’re rejoicing?
June 2022 Updates to the Reading List
I added nine more books to the Reading List page today. Check that page for full details.
Relics
Faith isn’t just carrying around someone else’s bucket of old dusty relics; faith is doing the hard work of examining each one carefully to see which are worth keeping.
Things I Have Learned This Year
I am finding that many things I was taught were dangerously one-sided and served to uncritically reinforce the views I was given. But when I add additional history to my understanding, I am forced to pull back from many conclusions and doctrines and political understandings.
Exposed by Change
Perhaps the truest test of a relationship is what happens when one of the people changes. It’s also the best chance to learn and grow.
Works Of Faith
Deconstruction is causing a sharp reaction in church circles. It’s as if faith has become a form of works. It’s paradoxical that not being unquestioningly faithful to what we were taught reveals a works-like tendency, among those who otherwise believe in justification by faith and not works. In those circles, apparently one must be “faithful enough” to remain saved.
In Control
If God is in control, then maybe I should stop trying to get out of a situation, and instead ask Him what He wants me to get out of it.