One of my mix CDs has a song by Jesus Jones called, “Right Here, Right Now.” During the chorus, the lyrics are, “Right here, right now, there is no other place I want to be. Right here, right now, watching the world wake up from history.” As the music rises and crests, you can almost…
Tag: Spirituality
Beef and Bourbon
Mahatma Gandhi famously complained that converting to Christianity meant converting to beef and bourbon. Some Indian converts also wore European clothing. This offended Gandhi’s religious and cultural sensibilities. Christianity’s interaction with culture has a complicated history. All of us live Christianity in our particular time, place, and culture. The eternal Word comes in our flesh,…
I am, He Is
I am in the One of whom the Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). He pleases the Father in me. I am in the One who died to sin and now lives to God (Rom. 6:10-11). He is dead to sin and lives to…
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)….
The Quakers: More than Oatmeal
For awhile now, the Lord has been teaching me about Christ’s indwelling. Knowing that I no longer live but Christ lives in me has become a daily necessity rather than an abstract proposition (Gal. 2:19-20). In the midst of this emphasis, I discovered the writings of George Fox, who started the Quaker movement in the…
Headwaters
Better to sit at the waters’ birth, Than a sea of waves to win; To live in the love that floweth forth, Than the love that cometh in. Be thy heart a well of love, my child, Flowing, and free, and sure; For a cistern of love, though undefiled, Keeps not the spirit pure from Phantastes…
Abandon Ship!
Over the years, I’ve read things by people who have left the church but continue to identify as Christians. There are a variety of things that lead to such a decision. Some have had bad experiences in the church and are connecting with God elsewhere. Others are reacting to a navel-gazing form of Christianity that…
The Descending and Ascending One
“Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch” (Gen. 5:18). Jared means “descend, go or come down.” Scripture says, “Enoch walked with God; then he was not because God took him” (Gen. 5:24). It is traditionally understood that Enoch was taken up to heavenly realms. Jared and Enoch picture Christ. Jared shows Christ who…
The Divine Plethora
Painting by Van Gough Jesus died and rose again. The entire Christian faith is comprehended in those few words. Easy to say but to know, to bow the soul without reserve before Reality…that is another matter. The Holy Spirit is gradually bringing our experience in line with Reality Himself. Scripture describes this as renewing the…
New-Years-Resolution Christianity
January 1st marks the beginning of the new year in many countries. Some observe this holiday by making a new year’s resolution. A new year’s resolution is a promise to change something about your life (usually for the better). People resolve any number of things: to exercise more, to have better boundaries, to spend…
The Voice of One 