Thoughts on 2 Corinthians: How to Respond to Comparison and Judgment
The human brain contains what is called the comparative frontoparietal network which allows us to take in stimuli and compare, contrast, and categorize as part of our biological makeup. Making quick decisions based on comparison must have been important in agrarian life: pick the clean fruit; leave the bug-ravaged fruit. In their article “The culture […]
Thoughts on Romans: what would Paul say to a divided America?
June 2020 saw a country torn apart and a powerful call to reconcile issues of race emerged. The deep divide echoes that of Rome when Paul hoped to unify Jew and Gentile. Reconciling differences and repairing past hurts takes work. It is a holy work, a humbling work, a necessary work. Latasha Morrison’s book Be the Bridge offers guidance for Christians seeking racial literacy. If we do the work, we can achieve the unification that Paul hoped for the Romans.
Thoughts on John: Jesus the Outlaw
Something that struck me while reading John, which carried over from the previous three accounts of the gospel, was just how much Jesus rebelled from the standard order of things. I don’t intend for the word rebelled to carry a negative connotation— the things he was rebelling against were not in line with God’s purpose […]
Sips & Scripts: healing trauma and bitterness with the salve of forgiveness
This is Kelly (and her rescue pup, Pumpkin!) Her drink is an iced chai latte. Rather than meeting at Two Cities itself, which is currently closed to in-house customers, we got our coffees to-go, made our way to a nearby park, and spread a quilt underneath the cottonwood trees. Kelly knew exactly what she wanted […]
Sips & Scripts: standing on the Word of God even in the scariest of times
This is Giana.(and baby girl due any day now!) Her drink is an iced creme brûlée mocha (a Kuppa Joy, for locals). Also, how have I never tried one? Gi and I brought our 3-year-old boys to the coffee shop with us,* so sprinkled into our incredibly deep discussion were tiny little voices breaking in […]
On the Gospel of Luke and Panic Attacks
I am no stranger to anxiety. I’ve had phobias. I’ve had panic attacks. I have felt absolute desperation. In this post, I discuss how reading the gospel of a
Luke helped me release my sense of control and eased my anxiety symptoms.
Thoughts on Mark: Jesus the human
That thing you are going through? Jesus has been there. There is nothing difficult that we will experience on earth that Jesus did not endure.
The little free library needs truth
I snagged twelve unmarked Bibles that my college was looking to get rid of, and I have an idea for what to do with them. I’m going to take a Bible (the one Lucy snagged, I suppose) and I’m going to try and get it to someone who needs it. Here’s how: I marked a […]
now i know: Matthew
It’s February, so I am on to Mark, but I thought I would share what I have been doing over on Instagram. @thestoneandtheoak, I do a running “now i know” series to share what I learn during my reading. Here is the collection for Matthew:
Thoughts on Matthew: the Faith that Made Jesus Marvel
Jesus rewards the faithful by healing them.