Day One Hundred Forty-Three of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: What’s Inside
In Western Christianity, we tend to downplay our part in finding solutions to life’s problems. We tend to say that “God is everything and I am nothing.” I’ve heard that proclaimed in many ways all of which require me to put myself down. I’ve always had a problem with that. As a youngster, I never […]
Day One Hundred Forty-One of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: Be Still and Know!
It seems that frenetic activity becomes embedded in the practice of religion. Notice I said religion and not spirituality. I know that was the case for me growing up. So much energy was spent creating an illusion of importance surrounding the practice of faith as I knew it. Church services at least three time a […]
Day One Hundred Forty of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: The Value of Wisdom
The Value of Wisdom! Growing up in the somewhat convoluted combination of Pentecostalism and whatever “ism” to which Southern Baptists belong, I realized that I heard very little wisdom from the mouths of those whose job it was to dispense it. I heard countless sermons, speeches and lessons purporting wisdom. On the surface, these presentations […]
Day One Hundred Thirty-Nine of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: The One Who Reconciles
I never really knew the true meaning or gravity of the word reconcile until I went to college. In fact, the word never really grabbed my attention until that time of my life. I’m not really sure why, it just had not. I’m guessing that up until that time, I had no real reason to […]
Day One Hundred Thirty-Six of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: Step Back!
When I was a child, I recall how strains of a particular song spurred hearts and souls to action! “Onward Christian Soldiers” was the song. It begins with the words, “Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war . . .” The stirring anthem generated passion and energy in ways no other song did. Very often, […]
Day One Hundred Thirty-Four of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: Solutions to Problems!
Solutions to Problems! That’s what modern day Christian Faith promises! We all have ’em (problems that is) and, believe it or not, we have solutions to those problems as well. Many proponents of modern Christianity tout the Faith as some sort of magic show. Some sort of mystical pathway to problem-free living. When a person […]
Day One Hundred Thirty-Three of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: When Righteousness is Just a Jacket!
Joseph (of Old Testament fame) possessed a “technicolor dream coat” which he wore as a Robe of Righteousness. Elijah (also of Old Testament fame) possessed a mantle that somehow embodied a representation of Righteousness. Garments of various types have been associated with Righteousness in multiple religious groups around the world. The thing about coats and mantles […]
Day One Hundred Thirty of 365 – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: Pre; Post; A . . . Or?
I’m in the middle of sharing a mini-series within a larger series of writing and I’m really enjoying myself! I have committed to publishing a brief article, blog post or thought once a day for an entire year! What a challenge! In the midst of this journey, I’ve discovered that writing a series of posts with a common […]
Day One Hundred Twenty-Seven – Confessions of a Recovering Bapticostal: From Out of the Night, Part 2!
Standing under the stars that pleasant, predawn summer morning after being awakened by my youngest grandson, I was reminded of two phenomena that disturb my soul greatly. The first had to do with the desire for control and how the need to control runs counter to the expression of true spirituality. Spirituality seeks the practical. […]
Day One Hundred Eighteen of 365 – Hitting the Wall
Hitting the Wall! This simple phrase has many meanings depending on the context in which it is spoken. Hitting the Wall finds expression in our mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and relational ventures. Every single one of us hits the wall from time to time. When you hit that Proverbial Wall, what do you do? How […]