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Psalm 55 Kind of Day
I don’t know how your day is going, but I’m having a Psalm 55 kind of day around here. Are you familiar with Psalm 55? Have you ever been really hurt by someone that you used to respect and trust? Someone you called a friend and opened your heart to, only to be judged, condemned, and ultimately rejected by them? (And do you ever find that for reasons beyond your control you have to KEEP being hurt by them?) Well, if so, Psalm 55 is for YOU! Please grab your Bible and jump right into it all. Here are a few excerpts to get you started: “Give ear to my…
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Communities of Convenience vs. Communities of Grace
Life Together just posted a link to a fantastic article on churches as communities of convenience vs. communities of grace. A quick glance at the four-line chart is SO worth the 15 second read. But be forewarned–it is so profound that you may be thinking about it a LOT as you go throughout your day. I sure am. Gratefully, Tara B.
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Avoid These Things When Counseling (??)
Have you been following the discussion threads over at IX Marks on Jay Adam’s “When Counseling, Don’t …” list? I REALLY appreciate their ADDITIONS and their first NUANCE too. I’m looking forward to reading more nuances when they (hopefully) post them in the future. Hope you enjoy a blessed Tuesday! Yours, Tara B.
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So that explains it …
You probably don’t know that I have REALLY bad knees. I’ve had bad knees my entire life–even back when I was athletic and in shape. (Wow! Was I ever athletic and in shape? Seems like a zillion years ago.) Anyway … I’ve had multiple surgeries including two incredibly invasive, bone-cutting, re-aligning, the last step before total knee replacement surgeries. Sometimes the pain is manageable, sometimes I resort to heat and ice and old-man-bengay-rubs and any drugs I can take. But not when I’m pregnant, of course. So today I went and saw my knee surgeon to see if there was anything we can do for the next four and a…
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Relational Testimony (HT: RZIM’s Slice of Infinity)
Another classic from the only e-devotional I read Mon-Fri, RZIM’s Slice of Infinity: Relational Testimony (by L.T. Jeyachandran) Let me tempt you with just a snippet: “As an apologist, I am often engaged in conversations that involve the philosophical, theological, scientific, and historical reasons by which one could reasonably conclude that Jesus is exactly who he said he was–the eternal God now come in the flesh. But interestingly enough, Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35 that the final apologetic by which this world will recognize that he was sent by God is the demonstrable love-relationship that will be seen in the lives of his disciples. Why is it that the…
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Missing One Laptop
Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be missing my laptop for a few weeks (it’s being repaired) — so I’m hoping to stay on top of things blog-wise and email-wise, but it might be a little hard. In the interim, I’m using a really (REALLY!) old computer of ours–and I have to say, it’s pretty funny to see the mix of websites in my “favorites” since Fred dumped my current ones into my old ones. Life goes by so quickly, eh? I’m seeing lots of links to SCUBA shops we used to love, a consultant gig I no longer do, and a bank at which we…
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Do Not Confuse Self-Examination and Paralyzing Self-Condemnation
While I’m happily ensconced in the wilds of Georgia, serving at a retreat (with no wifi or cell coverage), here’s a little “posted in advance old-y but hopefully good-y” blog post for ya’: Is it REALLY Possible to CHANGE?! Let me tempt you to read it with just two excerpts (both quotes from Lane & Tripp’s, “How People Change”): “This life of self-examination and joyful discontent should not be confused with a life of paralyzing self-condemnation.” “God does not call us to self-loathing, but to a willingness to examine our lives in light of our hope as new creatures in Christ. That hope is not only based on the promise…
