Putting the “Ugh” in Ugly

Sketch by Patrick Murphy Yesterday, Americans elected Donald Trump as their next president.  (Read my pre-election thoughts here).  Today, the news and social media are blowing up with opinions about this election.  (Silly me, I thought it would be over yesterday).  Cyber-space is full of doomsday predictions, verbal attacks, defensiveness, cattiness, and righteous indignation in…

The Complete Jesus–Mallory Patrick

Today’s post is by my sister-in-law, Mallory Patrick! *** “Behold, I cast out demons, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected” (Luke 13:32) Many believers focus on Jesus’ pre-Cross ministry, which included visible, miraculous healings and miracles. But in this verse, Jesus says that His coming was…

Incense

Crushed and broken Pulverized Laid on the altar Set on fire There’s nothing left but smoke to rise Everything consumed but fragrance and light Not I Christ

Just the Factions, Ma’am

America’s presidential election is…beyond description.  People often say they’re voting for the lesser of two evils. But many see no clear favorite in the race toward lesser evil.  (And what a sad finish line that is). The picture above captures this feeling.  Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump are imagined as super-villains from “The Dark Knight,” part…

Passover for Third Graders–Cameron Fultz

Cameron Fultz is a friend and author of several books, including Jesus Pictures.  Jesus Pictures looks at the stories in the Bible as pictures of Jesus.  We have not fully understood any passage of the Bible until we’ve seen Jesus in it.  This is only possible as the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to our hearts through the…

Wanted: A Few Good Idiots

This past weekend,  I had the following article published in the religion section of our local paper. I posted a slightly different version on The Voice of One two years ago. Given America’s current political climate, I feel like the thoughts in this article are especially relevant. *** “The Idiot” is a book by Russian…

Getting into the Weeds

The other day, I was pulling weeds. My son asked why. I explained they were weeds, and we didn’t want them in our yard. “But those aren’t weeds. They have flowers,” he protested. I told him weeds often have flowers; it is the nature of a plant that makes it a weed, not whether it…

Why the World Is Real

The view from our cabin at Camp Orkila Last week I went to fifth grade camp with my daughter at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island.  It was a physically grueling week.  I don’t know how many miles we hiked.  All I know is I ended the week exhausted, sporting huge blisters and aching to my…

Whose House?

Years back, the Lord opened the book of Haggai to me in new ways.  (See the booklet “Haggai: Feast” for more about that).  Verse 1:4 is probably the heart of the book: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” The temple was…

Heirs of Death and Resurrection

Sketch by Patrick Murphy The Lord promised Abram and his seed the land of Canaan. Abram grew into this promise through a series of events: the death of his father, Terah (Gen. 11:32); leaving Haran for Canaan (Gen. 12:1); going down to Egypt because of famine (Gen. 12:10); coming up out of Egypt (Gen. 12:13)….