-
Recent Posts
Archives
- April 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- August 2021
- January 2021
- October 2020
- June 2019
- May 2019
- October 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- May 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- September 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- November 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- December 2011
Categories
Meta
Category Archives: Devotion Life
A Dream: A Sniper Rifle vs. Christ’s Binoculars
I just woke up from a powerful dream…in a coffee shop… in Cambodia. The dream was not about being in a coffee shop in Cambodia; I am literally in Cambodia in a coffee shop, having just woken up from a … Continue reading
Looking at Gethsemane Anew: The Fall and Rise of Jesus
Before he rose up from the depths of the grave, Jesus needed to first rise up from the ground upon which he fell. Don’t be put off. The fall and rise of Jesus that I refer to is not a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotion Life, Thought of the day
Tagged affliction, Arminianism and suffering, Christian response to suffering, Christian suffering response, dark night of the soul, distress, endurance, gethsamene, heartache and pain, How to overcome grief, How to overcome pain, How to overcome rejection, Jesus and suffering, Jesus in anguish, Jesus suffering, Jesus sweat blood, Jesus was human and suffered, perseverance, suffering and will of God, suffering Christian
6 Comments
Clotting a Wound with Spiritual Platelets
A few weeks ago one of the orphans at the Children’s Home I oversee, named Vantha, came down with a very severe case of dengue fever. His case was so bad that the private clinics did not want to accept … Continue reading
Adversity Lesson 3: How the end product of affliction can be a hope that does not dissappoint
Romans 5:2-5 says, “Through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, … Continue reading
Adversity Lesson 2: “They will pass through the valley of weeping and make it spring” (Ps. 84:6).
There are two authors and speakers that God has graciously used to bless me and teach me over the past weeks. One is Bob Sorge and the other is Francis Frangipane. Early on when the pain and confusion was most … Continue reading
Posted in Devotion Life, Thought of the day
Tagged adversity lessons, dealing with breakup, heartache, Psalm 84:5-7, suffering, wheat and tares
1 Comment
Adversity Lesson 1: God comes to change us not only console us
“Dear Matt, what I am about to tell you I say with a very heavy heart. I met someone else when I returned home last month, and he recently proposed to me. It was not planned–it took me by surprise. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotion Life, Thought of the day
Tagged affliction lessons, conformed into God's image, coping with breakup, dark night of soul, dealing with breakup, God and affliction, God and suffering, God and surrender, heartache, heartache and healing, image of God, Peter rebuked, Peter walked on water, recovery from loss
3 Comments
The Dream: Tombstones and Bowls
Last week I wrote a blog entry about the nature of dreams and how I believe dreaming is an evidence of an immaterial soul that temporarily disengages from our body and allows us to be both the author and audience … Continue reading
God’s Exploitation of the Devil’s “Thorns”
God’s sovereignty should never be seen as unilaterally determining or decreeing the evil actions or intentions of free agents (human or demonic) before the foundation of the world. Rather God’s sovereignty is best understood as exploiting the evil actions and … Continue reading
Posted in Critiquing Calvinism, Devotion Life
4 Comments
Dealing with Disappointment, Anger and Cynicism
Sometimes when we are mad we have many raw and honest emotions we want to voice. Part of growing up is learning how to contain our honest reactions over events and deliberate over them to consider a right response. Sometimes … Continue reading
Re-examining the O.T. Sacrificial System
What’s the deal with the Bible and blood? What was the point of all that animal sacrifice? Why does the N.T., in referencing Christ’s death, often focus on the blood of Jesus? If Christ’s death was needed for our freedom … Continue reading
A Theology in Tension 