Disgrace (Part One)

The law commands that unclean things be separated from clean.  After blood from the sacrifice was taken into the most holy place on the Day of Atonement, the animal’s body was taken outside the camp and burned (Lev. 16:27; Heb. 13:11).  The animal (who was innocent) took on the spiritual filth of the people.  Yet…

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Just a Thought…

We do not choose our own suffering. The suffering chosen for us is that which will cause us to give up everything for God or keep everything for ourselves.

Abandonment to Divine Providence

Last year, I read, Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, a Jesuit priest (1675-1751 AD).  In Abandonment, Caussade explores complete submission to the will of God (“divine providence” being another term for God’s will).   Caussade explains, “In this state they give up to God all their rights over themselves, over their words, actions, thoughts, and proceedings;…

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Stigma and the Gospel

Social services is my day job.  In social services and health care circles, I hear a lot of talk about reducing stigma.  There are a multitude of issues that bring up the topic of stigma.  The common theme is that society has been judgmental toward a certain condition or behavior; people living with those conditions…

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Oh Behave!

I had the following published in the religion column of our local paper, though they changed my fun title into something pedestrian. This was adapted from a previous blog post, ”In.” *** In First Thessalonians chapter four, Paul discusses behavior and growing in separation to the Lord.  For many—Christians and non-Christians—following rules and behaving is…

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The Measuring Line of Faith

As the writer of Hebrews encourages readers to live by faith, he tells them to run “with endurance” and to keep their eyes on Jesus, “the source and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2).  What does the source and perfecter of faith teach us? Verse 12:2 often reads that Jesus endured the cross “for the…

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Break Time!

It’s been a long week. In fact, I feel like it was more than seven days 😆 So, I’m taking a break. If you haven’t read any of the booklets posted on The Voice of One, feel free to look through the titles and read. You might also read past posts or check out one…

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Picture Jesus

Periodically, the Voice of One features guest posts by my friend, Cameron Fultz. Cameron and I connected about 10 years ago over a book he wrote called Jesus Pictures. Since then, Cameron has written a score of books sharing how he sees Jesus in Bible stories. I share this approach to scripture, and we can…

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A History of Heresy

Recently, I finished a book called A History of Heresy by David Christie-Murray, published in 1976. Christie-Murray has an interesting background: after 27 years of being ordained in the Anglican Church, he resigned orders to join the Society of Friends or Quakers. The book left me unsure whether he is a Christian Quaker or one…

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January 1st or the End of the World

I had the following article published in our local paper last month *** If 2022 were a movie, I’d call it 2020: Part 3.  So far, it’s the even worse sequel to 2021, which was the bad sequel to 2020.  We all know why: the pandemic, socio-political unrest, supply chain issues, and (ugh) masks.  “Happy…

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