Foundation: Seek first the kingdom, and all these shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). What is this like at the practical, daily level? I think one aspect is heart intent; consistently seeking, desiring, returning to, praying to the Lord. Another aspect is regular, substantial, and meaningful Christian fellowship. This will likely take effort, as … Continue reading Open Letter to a Young Christian Man
Tag: mindset
Regarding Covid 19
As a lay observer, I am trying to put together some coherent thoughts about the whole situation surrounding Covid 19: -When I go for a walk on a public trail, I try to greet those I pass by. It seems polite to me. But I value it more now. There's something really good about acknowledging … Continue reading Regarding Covid 19
Today, Redeemed
See today as redeemed. This has to do with seeing today, (that is, the work, the people, the opportunities of the day) through God’s eyes, rather than seeing the day through the lenses of my own limited thinking. What might my thinking be limited by? Perhaps past hurts, or maybe things that I say about … Continue reading Today, Redeemed
Stretched
"We cannot embrace our present blessings if our hands are full of past failures." "They had been oppressed for so long they did not know how to live in blessing." These were two quotes from a recent guest speaker at church. Also recently, a friend sent me a link to part of a lecture by … Continue reading Stretched
My Two Biggest Fears
My two biggest fears are; 1.) Not having sufficient emotional abundance and availability to really be helpful on that level to those who are closest to me, primarily my wife and possible children in the future. 2.) Getting stuck at a level, personally, professionally, and spiritually that is well below my potential. Why these thoughts … Continue reading My Two Biggest Fears
Healing a Soul
The context here is John 5:1-15. Verse five is what hit me the hardest: “One man was there who had been sick for 38 years.” You can be healed of a condition, but how do you recover from being trained into a mindset, or from having your mindset reinforced by your circumstances? Thirty-eight years. How … Continue reading Healing a Soul
Sooner and Simpler
Romans 4:21 says, “...because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” It might not be in every detail, in the form that we expect it. But that is an important point, because the road to something being accomplished is often shorter and simpler than we think. God … Continue reading Sooner and Simpler
My Toothbrush is Holy
I am a big fan of demystifying churchey words, not because I am irreverent, but because I don't want their effect to be lost. So, "holy". I would describe "holy" as 'designated for a particular purpose'. People have holidays (holy-days) designated for remembrance of certain religiously significant events. A holy day, or holy place, or … Continue reading My Toothbrush is Holy
What You Already Have
I was talking with a friend of mine about seeking God in the context of a romantic relationship. In the course of that, he told some of his story about the woman who is now his wife. At some point he said, "we prayed together", and though he was not placing any special emphasis on … Continue reading What You Already Have
The Seasonality of Revelation
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter two, is the following story: “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? … Continue reading The Seasonality of Revelation
Andrew K. Banks 