Every December the decorations return – banners with doves, cards declaring “Peace on Earth”… And yet every year the headlines never change: hardship, loss, injustice… How do we come to terms with the contradiction? Is the biblical promise that God’s shalom (peace, rest, wholeness) is taking over creation to be believed? Or is it (as it often...
Tag: what should I look for in a church
Advent 2014, Part 3: Sharing Joy
This episode is particularly personal to me. “Joy” is not a primary Winslow trait. Hard work, honesty, responsibility, service to others…these are virtues I know well. And to the degree that the Bible calls Christians to “rejoice,” I did my best to be optimistic for Jesus (whatever that means). Often what it really meant was...
Advent 2014, Part 2: The Gift of Intimacy with God
Does God know I exist? Does he know the circumstances of my life? Does he hear me when I pray? Does he care??? Such questions go back to the dawn of time and for most of human history, the answer has been: no. The gods may exist, but their concern for humans was minimal! Mostly...