Why the Slap Stings {PODCAST}
As we look at the particulars of Jesus’ Second Mile instruction in Matthew 5, it’s fascinating to see the three facets of wrong-doing that He addresses in three short sentences. First of all He speaks of the slap. This isn’t an impersonal injustice. This is the up-close and personal wound of a friend. You can see the whites of their eyes. A slap is a sign of contempt, from someone you trusted enough to be within arm’s reach. In this episode we look at why the slap stings, drawing from Psalm 55 and the experience of the mighty King David. Read More
The Secret Joy of the Second Mile {PODCAST}
Turning the cheek, offering the shirt off your back, and slogging along a forced-mile sounds miserable. And as long as we’re in that “have-to” mindset, it is miserable. But that’s just it—the secret of the Second Mile is that you break the back of unfair compulsion with the power of voluntary generosity. It’s a completely upside-down counter-attack of kindness that frees you from that miserable victim-feeling and turns you into a victorious fighter for the cause of Christ. Come along as we contemplate what’s really at stake here, and how we can—even today—turn the tables and find the joy of freely following Jesus. Read More
Unsalted chips are gross {PODCAST}
Tortilla chips without salt? No, thanks. Similarly, who wants the burden of religious obligations without the actual life-transforming power of Jesus that enables us to do what is humanly impossible? If the gospel doesn’t empower us to love our enemies, how are we any different from the world? In this episode we look at the total transformation of one disciple, and how we too can be completely changed by the upside way of Christ.Read More
Three guys who got it right {PODCAST}
Thankfully, we don’t just have Saul, Ahab, and Jonah as our examples. The Old Testament also gives us three guys who are a great example of emotional health. In this episode Kari looks to Joseph, David, and Ezekiel and shows what we can learn from their lives. Also included are practical steps — if we do recognize the symptoms of emotional instability in our lives, what can we do about it? Read More
Three dysfunctional dudes and what we can learn from their lives {PODCAST}
Thankfully, Scripture doesn’t just give us lists of commands or rules to obey, it also gives us stories about real men and women, so we can watch their lives and learn how to (and how not to!) follow God. In this episode we look at the lives of three men who devolved into emotional dysfunction. What warning signs do we see early on? What choices did they make that led them down the road of dysfunction? What can we learn that will keep us from making the same mistakes? Join us for this fascinating study of Saul, Ahab, and Jonah.Read More
How our emotions help us… {PODCAST}
On the one hand, letting our emotions enslave us or dictate our behavior leads to bondage, and keeps us from being useful to serve those around us. But on the other hand, emotions DO play an important role in our lives, if we wisely tune into what they’re telling us. They may not tell us the truth about reality, but they do tell us a lot about ourselves.Read More
Emotional health, so we can be useful… {PODCAST}
I’m here in Oregon in the midst of the wildfires. What a week. First chance I’ve had to steal away and share thoughts, both on events of this week, and my personal journey through learning about how we must learn to have victory over our emotions in order to be useful and serve others. Something tells me this is something we’re going to need ASAP. 😉Read More
This would all be easy except for … {PODCAST}
This would be easy except for …
…how I FEEL. Anybody else?
I KNOW the right thing to do, but how can I do it when I feel so incredibly hurt, betrayed, frustrated, (fill in the blank!). So here’s what we have to figure out: Can feelings be commanded? Can God command us to FEEL a certain way? How much control do we have over our feelings? In this episode we begin to tackle some of these questions, because until we figure out feelings, we won’t be able to figure out freedom.Read More
Letting go of the ledger-lifestyle {PODCAST}
Proverbs warns us against receiving supposed generosity from someone who is “inwardly calculating.” But unfortunately, we can all fall into a ledger-lifestyle, unknowingly keeping track of relational debits and credits. In this episode, Kari discusses the danger of this ledger-lifestyle, and how step into the freedom of generous grace. Read More
My thoughts on Covid + 5 ways to cultivate the health of my heart
“I will just be happy to talk about something other than Covid!”
Ha. That was my friend’s text responding about our upcoming book-discussion group. Oh man, seriously. Hands down, this has been the hardest ministry season of our lives. A couple days ago in my morning Bible reading I read an interesting Proverb:
“A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
(Prov. 18:14)
That pretty much sums it up. In the last six months, I haven’t had a single person in my life who has been crushed due to physical illness. I actually don’t know anyone who’s been sick beyond a mild cough or cold. And yet, an overwhelming number of people have and are battling crushed spirits.
Please understand this isn’t a political statement. I’m not saying that wearing a mask is crushing someone’s spirit. I’m happy to wear a mask. In fact, yesterday I forgot my mask at Papa Murphy’s so I wore a diaper on my face. We need some humor, people! We’re dying from a lack of laughter!
“A joyful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones!”
(Prov. 17:22)
I’m also not saying the physical symptoms of Covid aren’t a real concern. I know they are. I am saying that the atmosphere right now seems toxic to our souls and that’s what concerns me most. That’s what has made me cry myself to sleep and sometimes want to move out to the woods (Wait, we live in the woods–well, farther out into the woods) and avoid all contact with people for the foreseeable future.
I was telling a friend the other night, everything feels happy-sad right now:
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