Soul Set Free

       Wow. When I wrote "An Open Letter to 2021," and said that I had no idea what was going to happen on the 6th, I really  had no idea.  It's been exactly two weeks since that post, and it seems as though we're living in a completely different reality. A reality where, now more than ever,  right is wrong and  wrong is right. A reality where violence is "peace" and true peace is decried as "violence." A reality where the idea of liberty in all of its forms is more unpopular than a pariah. A reality where  countryman turns against countryman with an unparalleled ferocity. Except this time, it is accompanied with the heavy words "traitor" and "terrorist;" flung high into the ether like so much chaff. And these comments were aimed at almost all of the wrong people.  We've been sternly lectured by our "betters" and utterly betrayed by a large percentage of our elected "leaders." Our voice was unequivocally ...

     Dear 2021,     We’re not well acquainted yet, but I thought I’d say hi before you’re too old and accomplished to recognize a small chick like me. To be completely honest, so far I keep mistaking you for your notorious older brother, and giving him the day’s credit any time something needs to be dated. But you sure have been long anticipated. You know that famous older brother I mentioned? Yeah, lots of folks hate his guts. I can’t say that I blame them... he was a doozie. But you. Lots of folks hope you’ll be the superhero that saves the day (or the year.) You’re like the middle child everyone hopes will keep it together when the guinea pig oldest child derails.     That’s a lot of pressure for one little year, and it’s not often that the pressure is as high as it is when you’re only five days old. I want to encourage you though: don’t take it too much to heart. We may not know you well yet, but we’ll get there: at 60 seconds per minute, 60 m...

“In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,  and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,  full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14 ESV emphasis added) This particular passage of Scripture has stood out starkly in my mind ever since I first became aware of its meaning at 17. I mean, seriously, in what greater way could you rapidly lay out the facts about who Jesus is and what He did outside of the Bible? To me, it also sounds like the author (John, one of Jesus’ twelve close disciples, and known throughout this book as “the one Jesus loved”) is incredulous at the beautiful fact of the Gospel incarnate. Jes...

Turn Your Eyes O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; O'er us sin no more hath dominion— For more than conqu'rors we are! His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.     For me, old hymns hit the spot like nothing else. There's something precious about the knowledge that people living long before I was a twinkle in my parents' eyes, loved Jesus like I do. Actually, if I'm being honest with myself (and you,) I'd say they loved Him far more than I do. The idea that we are brothers and sisters in Christ with these saints, worshiping  together on both...