human (220)

Ian

Shear Time

Psalm 122; Isaiah 61:1–9; John 15:1–8 (read online ⧉) The year of the Lord’s favor is probably not this year. The ever-changing nature of this year, and all the odd and bad things that are going on would in no way seem to be the…

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Ian

Despairing Flames of Joy

Ecclesiastes 3:16–4:3; Job 3:1–26 (read online ⧉) Let’s be honest, Ecclesiastes is not the most uplifting book of the bible. In many respects, it can be a bigger downer than the story of Job. Both books are generally put under (along with Proverbs) the category…

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Ian

Planned Disruption

1 Samuel 16:1–5; Luke 14:28–33; James 4:13–17 (read online ⧉) But mouse-friend, you are not alone in proving foresight may be vain: the best-laid schemes of Mice and Men go oft awry, and leave us only grief and pain, for promised joy! Still, friend, you're…

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Ian

Foot Care

John 17:1–11; Ephesians 1:17–23 (read online ⧉) I thought how ironic it was that I’d dismissed dog meat as a cultural idiosyncrasy in Vietnam; that “who I am to judge?” extended to Islamic laws in Uzbekistan and Buddhist temple restrictions in Cambodia, but not to…

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Ian

Handling Truth

Psalm 110; Matthew 22:41–46; John 1:1–18 (read online ⧉) John calls Jesus the Word. In his phrasing, it wasn’t just any word or words. Jesus was (is) the actual physical embodiment of God’s words. It’s…strange. It’s…incomprehensible. It’s…impossible. It’s…faith. When Jesus speaks, we’re to listen. That…

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