Sometimes Christian

The dirt road home was far from straight. It curved around hillsides, sloping up and down, disappearing from sight with every bend. It had been so long since Simon had taken this path that everything looked foreign and he feared that he had taken a wrong turn somewhere. Perhaps time had worn the desert down, scouring away at familiar rocks and landmarks, or perhaps he was simply not used to traveling in this direction. Whatever the reason, he found himself trekking back several times, hunting for landmarks that would confirm his road. Rubbing his face, Simon hesitated on the borders of his father’s lands, unable to move. How could he return? What right did he have to ask for even the slightest mercy? He knew his father was a forgiving sort, he’d even scorned the man for being too lenient at times, but this was different. Simon’s betrayal was deeper, more intimate and profound, and he knew it. And, of course, there was Bethany. He remembered her as he’d last seen her, bloody and...

A couple of weekends ago something tragic happened in Boise, Idaho. An angry man tore through a three-year-old's birthday party with a knife. He killed the birthday girl and injured many others, mostly children of varying ages. There are many reports on what happened and everything I have read concurs that the man had been asked to leave due to his behavior days before. So far they have stated that this does not appear to have been a hate crime, more a "revenge" sort of thing. At least, that's what's being painted right now. Perhaps more will come out during the upcoming trial and things. I realize that this is one incident, that tragedy happens everywhere and all the time. We have shootings in our schools. Children are neglected and abused across the globe and no matter how hard we try to fight against it, we keep seeing it happen. How can we believe in a good, loving God when faced with this on a daily basis? If God loves us all so much, why does He...

A party of luxury raged through the night, full of laughter and dancing and vice. Drapes in vivid blues and purples hung through the hall, and the table was bursting with a feast of overly spiced meat and wine. Firelight cast shadows into hidden alcoves and set the gilded trappings to a warm, golden glow, and servants wove their way around merry guests as they indulged Antipas. Outside in the corridor, a young girl prepared to perform a special dance for her stepfather under the careful instruction of her mother. Far from the revelry, in a dark place made for forgotten men, a jailer sat with his prisoner. The two were a study in contrasts; the prisoner with shaggy hair and a full beard, arrayed in camel skin and several weeks’ worth of grime, and the jailer neatly groomed in a linen tunic. The jailer stood calmly outside the cell, one shoulder propped against the wall, and the prisoner shuffled from wall to wall, hands clasped behind his back and head bowed in thought. “You know ...

When the song I Can Only Imagine was first released, I was a teenager and I remember the profound effect it had on my church. The lyrics touched on the hope we all have for when we leave this world behind and to this day I get misty-eyed when I'm really listening to it. So when the movie came out that revolved around the making of this song, I was excited to see it. To be honest, I haven't had the chance yet, but it is on my list for the summer.  That said, I read a review of the movie and was disturbed by something the author revealed. This reviewer was not kind when it came to the substance of the film, which is to be expected these days. It seems the more acerbic and snarky one can be, the more popular the review/critique becomes, which is sad in its own right but I digress.  The statement that caught me was that a particular character's sudden conversion to Christianity after being diagnosed with terminal illness "didn't really count." Be...

Scrolling through my social media the past week I was confronted by how Christians use their accounts. This wonderful means of communication has opened up a new way of reaching friends and family who may or may not believe as we do. Many people use this to their advantage, unapologetically praising God for the things happening in their lives and spreading scripture. Thank you for that.  I find personal testimony on how God is working in your life far more inspiring than the "Type Amen and Pass it Along" posts. And scripture is always a welcome beacon during a dreary day.  But, as with all things, there are moments when Christians need to pay attention to how they are representing God.  Trigger topics like politics, abortion, gun control, etc. need to be carefully approached. I'm not saying you can't take a hard stance on any of these topics. On the contrary, Jesus took hard stances in His day and even promised that His message would bring divisio...

Marcus could sense death in his house. He stood on the roof, hands clasped behind his back, watching the midmorning sun climb the horizon. It had been a restless night full of sick room visits and whispering servants as they rushed for water or poultices. Hours of pacing had his feet throbbing and there was a pinching between his shoulders that would not release. Still, he couldn’t permit himself to rest, not while John lay dying just below.   Taking a deep breath, Marcus traced the last seven years of his life. John had been five years old when his parents fell to illness, leaving him with no home and no family. Since the boy’s family had served Marcus, he’d felt responsible and brought the child into his home. It wasn’t long before the boy snuck his way into Marcus’ heart, filling his world with laughter and adventures. They’d built toy boats together and made up stories about a Roman Centurion named Mattias who spent his time quelling unrest throughout the empire. A ma...