living in the light of God's grace
And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:2-3 ESV) Scenes from the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles brought to my […]
I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do last year. But did I do what I was supposed to? Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow […]
Why I question one particular prayer in times of grief It’s Good Friday and I’m reflecting on death. Over the past few years, there has been so much loss and grief among members of my community. Children losing parents. Parents losing children. Husbands and wives losing their spouses. Friends who don’t know how much longer […]
How do we find a sense of peace in the midst of wars, pandemics, and other alarming developments? Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds […]
Before the resurrection, there is crucifixion. On Easter Sunday, we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, we remembered that Jesus died a horrific death on a cross for us. But what about Saturday? The day when Jesus was dead and buried and his disciples thought that all was lost? I’ve been through […]
In the midst of divisions tearing through the Church, what can we learn about unity through Jesus’ humiliating death on a cross? The most divisive year ever? I haven’t posted in nearly a year, and what a year it has been. Not only did we have to contend with this novel coronavirus, which no one […]
To forgive is a choice we must make daily. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” – Colossians 3:12–13 […]
A closer look at Amos 5:24 shows more than just rolling waters and flowing streams. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24 ESV) I’m sure you’re familiar with this verse. Maybe you’ve heard it quoted by a fiery preacher. Maybe you’ve read it in someone’s social media […]
For some, Mother’s Day is a day of celebration; for others, a day of lament or hopeful anticipation. God, as we celebrate mothers today, We thank You for your deep love for us. You are the Giver of life. Our divine parent. You model unconditional love and sacrifice. You nurture your children and discipline us […]
A prayer and reflection in light of what God has done for us through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. God, Our Father, who created the earth and everything in it, who made us in Your own image and entrusted Your creation to our care, we come before you this Resurrection Sunday. We celebrate You […]
What is God teaching me through all of this? The last time I posted, I talked about the dangers of isolation. And here we are, living under self-quarantine, isolated from our friends, coworkers, and community. So many thoughts. But rather than try to rationalize what’s happening or assign blame to this or that, I’ll instead […]
Is there such a thing as too much silence and solitude? I’m constantly surrounded by people. At home. At work. At church. Not that I mind. I’m not antisocial. I’m just an introvert. This means that I enjoy the company of others, but I just don’t like talking all the time. So, I often withdraw […]
Did Joseph ever aspire to rule over Egypt? A pastor once asked me what my five-year plan was. Then, I replied that I had learned (the hard way) not to make my own plans, but to remain open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. “In five years, I’ll be wherever God wants me to be.” That […]
The real reason I stopped taking seminary classes. Seminary had been a high priority in my life. This is why, when planning a work trip overseas, I did my best to schedule it for after I’d finish two quarters of Greek classes. I couldn’t let anything interrupt such an important course of study and risk […]
Ever pray for clarity? I have—but maybe we’re not supposed to. In 2005, while I was working in film, video, and graphic design, God called me to serve in full-time ministry instead. A year later, I was on staff at a church. In 2011, when I was a pastor at that church, God called me […]
Should we let our kids believe in Santa Claus? What happens when a child figures out the truth? Could it ultimately affect the child’s spiritual journey? Here’s what happened when a 5-year-old boy from Cleveland was told about Santa Claus—and began to ask too many questions: Watch the video here.
Following God’s calling doesn’t always make sense. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV) A missionary believes he is called by God to a place considered dangerous. People are torn about his decision. Some encourage him to go. Others discourage him from […]
The answer is not quite that simple. “I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Cor. 10:23-24 NIV) Halloween is right around […]
Communion isn’t just between you and God. It’s communion with the worldwide body of Christ. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread […]
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24 NIV) I woke up late that morning. I was out late the night before. At the time, my then-girlfriend-now-wife, Soo, lived in Glendale and I lived 80 miles away in the Inland Empire. A friend of mine had invited me to co-teach […]
You ever hesitate—or fail—to pray because you just didn’t believe that God would answer your prayer? I do. More often than I should. He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it […]
I don’t think He wants to “use” me, anyway. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10 NIV) Ah, aging. The loss of hearing. Deteriorating vision. The pain in my back, hips, knees, ankles, and heels when I wake […]
Sometimes, God guides us by closing the doors on us. “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” (Acts 16:7 NIV) << Previous episode There was a cricket in my house the other day. My wife hates crickets. I refuse […]
When God calls us to something, He might not call us to finish it. <<Previous episode January, 2017. I had just started my new job a month earlier. This role was an incredible answer to prayer: getting paid to write and be on social media all day, all to serve people with disabilities in the name […]
Is taking care of your family idolatrous or biblical? <<Previous episode As I was processing what the roundabout meant for me—was God calling me to exit one specific role at one specific church, or was He calling me to exit full time ministry completely?—an encounter with some old friends rattled me. They had been married […]
Are our failures part of God’s plan, or does God redeem our failures? << Previous episode October, 2016. I agreed to step down from my pastoral role after God spoke to me through a roundabout: “See the direction everyone else is going.” “Yield.” “Navigate your way through without crashing.” “Know when to exit.” After two […]
God doesn’t always give us a sign. << Previous Episode If you know me or have read any of my blog, you probably know that following signs from God was “my thing.” My schtick. God gives me a crazy sign, I pray about it for a while, then I follow God into the next adventure […]
The end of one chapter is the beginning of a new one. << Previous Episode If Ransomed Life were a three-act play or film, this post would be near the end of Act II. Many stories follow a similar three-act structure. In Act I, the protagonist lives in an ordinary world, subconsciously wondering, “Who am I?” […]
When calling doesn’t turn out the way you expected. <<Previous Episode Facebook reminded me that two years ago, I posted something about feeling like a doormat. “It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by […]
I wasn’t too crazy about the movie the first time I saw it, but I loved it the second time. Why I flipped after reflecting on disappointment. Warning: spoilers ahead. “It was like a roller coaster ride: there were about five truly exhilarating moments, but it took some tedious climbing to get to them, and […]
