Radically Happy

  • DRAFT: Fruit Of the Cross

    As Christians, we all want to live and love more like Jesus. But books, sermons, Bible study, quiet times, and even counseling only get us so far. To fully address our strongholds, woundedness and blind spots requires encountering Jesus in a supportive community that models how to deny ourselves, take…

  • Pam’s Story: Chronic Pain, Anxiety, and the New Creation (reblogged from “A Word of Substance”)

    My question became: “Is this my life until I die? “That was very sobering. I really struggled to hear God’s good voice over the voices of fear and anxiety and depression because it seemed so utterly helpless and that God was not acting in any way whatsoever. “ “ Pam’s…

  • Effective Word

    There is no effect without affect

  • Prayer Bears

    The primary job of prayer Is that love we bear We may think we care Yet we rarely dare To give more than our share

  • Redeeming Ares, Part 2: In Dio Veritas

    Redeeming Ares, Part 2: In Dio Veritas

    E. Oh, the usual. Epic quest to save my civilization, soul, & family. I imagine you get a lot of that around here. D. Aye, but these days not so much as you’d think. Nowadays most such folks head East. They figure the Western well has all but run dry.…

  • “The body of Christ arose as ONE mighty army”

    In that moment I saw the body of Christ arise and it arose as ONE mighty army. Amen, and the word of the Lord came to me: “This world will be given one more opportunity to see that Christ alone is Lord, through mighty signs and wonders, and bow their…

  • Whole-y Pray-ers

    [aka Hegelian Prayer: Asking for God’s synthesis, not just our thesis] God wants whole-y pray-ers

  • Redeeming Ares, Part 1: Apollo’s Creed

    Redeeming Ares, Part 1: Apollo’s Creed

    O mighty Apollo, I confess how little I know of true manhood, and often settle for shallow counterfeits. What must I do to receive the fullness of your gift?

  • Redeeming Ares, Part 0

    Redeeming Ares, Part 0

    Continued from Redeeming Aphrodite Ernie: You again? I thought Hades replaced you! Ares: Dream on. Even Haphaestus wants me back. Needs me, even. E. But you’re the personification of rape, sadism, and uncontrolled violence! A. So?

  • Hale’s Accusation (Alternate Ending of The Crucible)

    Our Christian high school just put on a “fearless” production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which continued to haunt me after leaving the theater. I identified deeply with many of the characters, whose seemingly minor flaws led to tragic results. I am writing this in hopes it will help me…

  • Dream: Impostor

    Our family is staying at a tropical casino.The kids are getting bored, so we start wandering towards the outside. The casino is having their grand evening religious ritual.The main hallway and staircase are lined with formally-dressed staff holding candles.I am never sure if they are genuinely devout, or just putting…

  • Dream: Guidebook

    It is our group’s last day in this beach townWe have all packed our bagsAnd checked out We are storing our thingsIn some sort of common roomWhile we each wait to depart I realize I have no more obligationsThis is the perfect timeTo doSome serious drinking!

  • Dream: Unmasked

    We are standing in a long line Outside, waiting to exchange money Everyone else seems poor laborers Ethnic minorities Reminds me of the lines When we were applying For my wife’s green card

  • Dream: Discrepancy

    Dream: Discrepancy

    Just like I use
Being clever and charming
To compensate for a lack
Of being emotionally available
In my closest relationships

  • Dream: Wild Thing

    Dream: Wild Thing

    I am holding a monster in my hands Round and furry, mostly head Like a Furby But evil, like a gremlin Yellow eyes, snarling teeth Rabid

  • Dream: Swordfighter’s Puzzle

    Dream: Swordfighter’s Puzzle

    A group of us Decided to learn sword fighting Mostly on a whim But recently Something happened That made a couple of us Take it more seriously

  • Redeeming Aphrodite: Freeing Minerva (Part 12 of 12)

    Redeeming Aphrodite: Freeing Minerva (Part 12 of 12)

    Continued from Part 11 Prologue All of us turn South, seeking the Voice which interrupted our tableau, here in the Box of Hades: We gaze toward the far horizon, where Eve’s Multitude had wreaked their vengeance upon Adam.I am sure it is not his Voice we just heard.I cannot place…

  • Core Grace Training

    Core Graceis the abilityto hold the tensionbetween affirmingmy own individualityand acknowledging the legitimacyof other’s needslong enoughfor Jesus to crucifymy self-centered false identityand revealHis greater redemptionfor all of us. In other words,(by analogy with core strength training)it is what enable usto substitute Christ-like Responsesfor selfish Reactions Backstory

  • Being Human: A Curriculum (reposted)

    Over on my “technical” blog, I propose rethinking spirituality as a “job to be done,” against which various religious traditions and rituals can be measured. Feedback welcome! Reframing spirituality as the culturally-neutral, teachable practice of becoming more human, as expressed in: 3 Capabilities, 4 Attributes, 12 Learning Outcomes Being Human:…

  • THE 7000: A Glimpse into the Future, by John Dayalan Edward

    Follow-on to A Word for America, by John Dayalan Edward The 7000 are the ones that will arise in the power of God in the coming seasons. They are everywhere. They are from every denomination but they do not identify themselves by one. Their identity is in Christ and He in…