the reason for God: chapter two

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This is the third post in a 14-week study we are working through. More information and resources can be found here. A quick note to those of y’all who are not participants: – Please read along as we go through the study chapter by chapter, and contemplate the questions we’ll be tackling. It’s gonna be good! – We will be utilizing the comment section as a forum for discussion for the participants only. I respectfully ask – if you are not participating – that you refrain from commenting on the Reason for God posts, simply to help keep things … [Read more...]

the Reason for God: Chapter One

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The Reason for God - Chapter One: There Can't Be Just One True Religion Timothy Keller begins by presenting the time honored arguments against the nature of God and Christians in particular - intolerance and exclusivity. And he lays out his response to each of the attempts made by cultural and political leaders to rid the world of the religious binds that they blame for the issues we face today: 1) outlaw religion 2) condemn religion and 3) privatize religion. Argument 1 - If society could outlaw religion, we would rid ourselves of the divisiveness caused by … [Read more...]

the answer

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Today marks two years since we got the call about Esther's death. And my heart still aches for her. So much has happened since in those two years. So much I could have never anticipated nor imagined. At the time I simply couldn't see past my grief. I didn't want to see past my grief. Not a year. Not a month. Not even a day. But God. He carried me during that time, constantly reminding me of His love. He didn't give me the answers I so desperately sought. But He gently revealed to me that He was the Answer. Two years later I can look back … [Read more...]

The Reason for God: intro and a trial run

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Surprise. We are starting a week early - sort of a trial run - to see how this online-Bible-study-with-100+-participants is going to work. A quick note to those of y'all who are not participants: -- Please read along as we go through the next 14 weeks, and contemplate the questions we'll be tackling. It's gonna be good! -- We will be utilizing the comment section as a forum for discussion for the participants only. I respectfully ask that - if you are not participating - that you refrain from commenting on the Reason for God posts, simply to help keep things … [Read more...]

oh my

**edited to add: I've heard from several of y'all who have purchased the book but hadn't signed up yet - if this is you too, please email me or leave a comment, I want to be sure you get a chance to participate** Wow, y'all. I'm blown away at the response to this Bible study. And *gulp* a smidge overwhelmed, too. When we hit 100 participants earlier today, I decided to close the group. So if you've used the link in my previous posts, and it doesn't work, you now know why. I better start taking my vitamins. And digging into my Bible. And hitting my knees to … [Read more...]

a few things

So excited about all y'all who have signed up to join me in studying The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. If you haven't heard, I posted all about it here, with some great resources to learn more about the book. I've received emails from several of y'all who want to join in but worry that you might not 'fit'. Either not old enough, not Christian enough or not spiritual enough. I've replied to those emails, but in case anyone else is feeling that way, know this - anyone is welcome to join. At least anyone that is willing to follow a few simple rules: be committed … [Read more...]

The Reason for God

About six weeks ago I mentioned beginning a new study, and sharing it here on the blog. Lots of y'all were jazzed about it. And so was I. And now, I'm ready to go. We finished up Knowing God last week and it was soooo good. So hard but so incredibly rewarding. For this study, after much prayer and consideration, I have chosen The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. You can check out the reviews of it here or here or here. Here is my challenge for you. Join me. The book is 14 chapters, about 250 pages. It costs a bit over $10 and its subject … [Read more...]

her last day

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Yesterday was Velvet's last day. She'd started out the week okay, eating occasional bits of steak and eggs, and a slice of American cheese, her all-time favorite treat, when she felt like it. But yesterday was bad. Not eating. Not drinking. Vomiting. The realization came suddenly, late in the afternoon. I knew it was time. Unfortunately, that didn't make the drive to the vet any easier. She had advanced lymphoma, the vet surmised. And her swollen lymph nodes were affecting her ability to breathe. He agreed - it was time. Sometimes love means doing the last … [Read more...]

taste and see

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:3-5 I am going through a mini-Bible study from the Summit Church with some of my kiddos. It's called Taste and See. And it's 31 daily scripture passages, one for each day of the month. The idea is simple: - Read the passage. - Put the passage into your own words. - Consider what it is saying about you and … [Read more...]

thinking ahead…

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to the next Bible study. Right now I'm studying Knowing God by J. I. Packer. And it's good. So glad to be studying it with a group of women, not only to help me learn more, but to keep me accountable. Because Packer? He aintmessinaround. Good stuff. Big stuff. But sometimes big stuff makes me want to go eat a cookie or three. And then I get distracted when I'm eating the cookie, and never come back to my book. I neeeed that accountability. To keep me from straying and keep me on task. Because that is where the good stuff is -- committing to something, … [Read more...]