This morning I was reading in John 14, and after Jesus had told his apprentices that he would be leaving them soon, but not alone, he spoke the following words:

All this I have spoken while still with you. (John‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬, emphasis mine)

We’ve all heard the expression that some things are better left unsaid, and yet I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering to me as I read that some things are better said. That some words carry weight that can only be felt when they are spoken and, because of the proximity, heard.

I mean, let’s be real, if you got a text from the IRS saying you owed money, you’d delete it and report it as junk. But let a card-carrying, badge-wearing IRS agent knock on your door to tell you the same thing, and you’re suddenly listening. I can tell by the sweat forming on your brow just from reading that scenario that you understand how the medium we use to communicate goes a long way toward communicating the weightiness of what we’re saying.

Jesus knew his time was short, and he knew that some things are better said face to face. He made sure he was with them so that he could tell them what was coming.

Continue reading

Today’s the day after Epiphany, and as we all turn the page on the Christmas season, I want to leave you with a final thought that has the power to transform the new year we’re all embracing. It comes near the end of the majestic introduction of the Gospel of John.

[su_quote]So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT, emphasis mine)‬[/su_quote]

Many other translations say that Jesus “took on flesh,” and all of them are beautifully summed up by Eugene Peterson in The Message: “the Word took on flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Continue reading

During the holidays, our family traveled to the land of fire ants and hell-simulating summers (I’m looking at you, Columbia, SC) to celebrate Christmas with The B99’s side of the family. Along with eating more food than seems humanly possible, we also had some fun playing some Minute To Win It types of games (shout out to my niece, Megan, for organizing all the craziness!!). My favorite one involved stacking marshmallows, and whoever had the most normal-sized marshmallows stacked one on top of the other after a minute was the winner.

I think I won, or at least tied for the win, but I’m not here to brag (unless stacking marshmallows really impresses you and makes you want to subscribe to my stuff).

What I noticed was how each person would step up to the table absolutely convinced that he or she could build a really tall marshmallow tower, only to end up with a tower of one when the time ran out and their stack had fallen. This happened almost ever single time, and it didn’t matter what technique the stacker employed. We had smashers, lickers, and shapers, and yet no one was able to get higher than four, and like I said earlier, most of the four-marshmallow towers ended up as one when the three on top fell over at the end.

Continue reading