Well, the terrible news has come out this week that Tullian Tchividjian, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, has confessed to having an affair and has stepped down from the pastorate. I have met him and talked to him personally a number of occasions at some of the conferences I go to, and I really […]
I hope this isn’t just linkbait. I do want to take a minute and throw out some thoughts about recent events involving grace preacher Tullian Tchividjian being asked to remove his blog from The Gospel Coalition’s web site. There has been a lot of heated rhetoric on all sides in the blogosphere about this. I […]
When we encounter something which invokes a sense of wonder, it means we have encountered some kind of splendor or beauty which is quite beyond us. We can marvel, but we cannot grasp. The sense of wonder releases us to enjoy, to worship, to have awe, without having to understand. We do not need to […]
I have been in so-called accountability groups in the past. They really should call them “guilt-inducing liar clubs.” Have you done [sin X] this week? Have you kept your nose clean? Did you just lie to me? How is your relationship with your wife?” OH … MY … GOODNESS. You’re going to bash me over […]
It is strange but true that one of the biggest objections people have to the message of radical grace is that it doesn’t seem to emphasize holiness and repentance. This is due to several factors: They think grace and mercy means that justice is ignored. They think grace and mercy means means that sinful behavior […]
I wanted to quote an excerpt from a piece of writing by Robert Farrar Capon, a conservative Episcopal priest and prolific author, and a huge proponent of grace. I absolutely love the little stinger of a question at the end! 9 And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that […]
Unforgiveness is not so much an act which cannot be forgiven, but rather it is a sign that we have not left the universe of law and obligation. It is a sign that we have rejected the kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of grace. One of my foundational ideas is that the scriptures […]
When the flight attendant intones the usage of the safety devices on the plane, he or she always says to put the oxygen mask on yourself, that way you will be conscious to help your child. If you want to help your child, you have to have oxygen first. Many times in talking about mercy […]
I am blessed and not cursed. I am loved by God whether I feel like it or not. I am forgiven even when I just can’t imagine that. When I fail, he doesn’t see me as a failure. When I feel alone, I am surrounded by him and his presence. I matter to him. Thank […]
I don’t know what any of this has to do with anything, but I’m under grace and sometimes I am allowed to be pensive. I don’t feel like writing anything insightful, but I am going to confess some feelings lurking. Lucky you, you get to read it! I saw a magnificent tree growing in the […]