Self-Examination

I am a Rock? I am an Island?

By MichaelChurch-y Stuff, Ecclesiology, Social CommentaryAnger, Church, Culture, Faith in Action, Gospel, Loneliness, Relevance, Self-Examination

As adults we often don’t realize just how many of our decisions are based on similar attempts at fitting in, at defining our identity, at finding our role within our social context. Did I come to this church because it provides the best theological teaching, or because it offers the best programs, or the best adult groups? Did I take this job because I love doing it, or because this type of job pays more money than one that I love to do – and by extrapolation, more money will allow me to get what I really crave?

The Way Home

By MichaelRandom Thoughts, Social Commentary, SpiritualityAnxiety, Beauty, Chaos, Fear, Religion, Self Worth, Self-Acceptance, Self-Examination, Spiritual Growth, Spirituality

So, to me, for someone to say that they are “spiritual, but not religious,” means that they are saying something to the effect of “I’m a human being.”

Of course, I’m being deliberately obtuse with my own question, because what people generally want to convey with that statement is that they simply do not subscribe to any form of organized religion, and prefer to find their own method of making sense of the world; that they do not find any meaning in the structures others have created, but prefer to create their own order within the chaos.

Do Be Do

By MichaelSermonsFaith in Action, God, Gods Will, Humility, Presence of God, Self-Examination, Self-Justification

It is entirely possible to do the will of the Father without being moved by what we are doing. We can follow all the requirements of a good and just society, without caring about the interests of others. We can do all of these things, but care only about looking good, which is precisely the opposite of what Paul was asking of the believers in Philippi.

Two Lies and a Truth

By MichaelSocial CommentaryFaith in Action, Fear, Judgment, Love, Pride, Self-Examination, Sin, Transformation

Instead of responding to their question, Jesus begins to write in the dirt, and finally says, “Let anyone of you here who is without sin, throw the first stone at her.” And then he keeps writing.

Slowly, one by one, from the oldest first to the younger, all begin to walk away.

Duct Tape and Dwelling Spaces

By MichaelSermonsFaith, Faith in Action, Fear, God, Hate, Hatred, Love, Self-Acceptance, Self-Examination, Self-Importance, Sin, Transformation

There can never be a beloved community – a community that includes all God’s children regardless of any self-imposed differences to keep ourselves apart – there can be no peace, no living together in harmony, unless there is forgiveness and understanding.

Do Not Heap Up Empty Phrases

By MichaelDaily Office ReflectionsFaith in Action, Fear, Peace, Prayer, Self-Examination, Self-Justification, Sin

“Thoughts and prayers.” If ever there was a heaping up of empty phrases, these three words after every major mass shooting in this country would win the prize for most overused phrase with the most under-whelming effect. “Thoughts and prayers” mean nothing when they do not move people to affect real and lasting change.

Let Us Rejoice And Be Glad

By MichaelRandom Thoughts, Things I Read SomewhereApocalypse, Faith, Faith in Action, Fear, Hate, Love, Peace, Self-Care, Self-Examination

Just this morning I ran across an old Facebook post on someone’s timeline. By old, I mean about three months old. It was of a letter from a political candidate who was predicting food shortages, lack of police officers; basically, general chaos moving into the fall and winter of 2021. The predictions were the typical fear-mongering, laced with a smattering of Biblical references to make the whole thing sound like the coming Apocalypse, and that this was prophecy. Cue the air raid claxons and the faint voices of monks chanting in the background.

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

By MichaelChurch-y Stuff, Ecclesiology, Random Thoughts, Things I Read SomewhereFear, God, Jesus, Judging, Judgment, Power, Power Struggle, Self-Examination

“Too many of you are competing to sit at a table that Jesus would have flipped over.” Some random meme Recently, that meme popped up on my Facebook feed, and I had to pause for a minute to reflect on it. It wasn’t funny enough to chuckle at and maybe share; it wasn’t stupid enough…

Un(ash)amed

By MichaelDaily Office ReflectionsCrucifixion, Joy, Lent, Motivation, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Self-Acceptance, Self-Examination

What motivates us to enter into these self-congratulatory states of inflated valuations of our own self-worth? We may indeed be better than some – by our own standards – but by our own standards we are also worse than others (Matt 7:1-2). Yet we still try and congratulate ourselves on our own righteousness, when standing before the God who reconciled us to Himself, no less.

On Quitting

By MichaelRandom ThoughtsDreams, Goals, Perseverance, Plans, Projects, Quitting, Self-Care, Self-Examination, Vision

Especially in the church, there is a tendency to elevate perseverance to the level of saintliness. Giving up in the face of hardship is considered akin to blasphemy, because, after all, Look at the example of Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Or look to Paul, who endured extensive amounts of torture and imprisonment to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to far off lands. What are our mere troubles when compared to the hardships endured by those two?

Tag: Self-Examination