The Wounded Spirit

Feeling some existential angst tonight so I edited a sermon and some music together. I think this is going to turn into a video at some point. 

Stories for Unbelieving Believers

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"...Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit.“You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said,“why did you doubt?”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

“why did you doubt?”

"Stop doubting and believe.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

www.desiringgod.org/interviews/battling-doubt-and-cynicism-in-our-bible-reading

Come back for me.

Some days it's really hard to not feel sad.

My Dear Mother

I'm not exactly sure how to start this post. I suppose it should be some sort of thesis statement with intrigue and wit...


...Here's a list of things about you that I'm thankful for.

(wit and intrigue be dammed)

1. Thank you for reading to me. For reading the books that taught...

life is going to be hard, but you can work through it

 look for Aslan in your own country

don't be afraid of your scars, be a hero instead

the bible is LONG, but FULL of great stories 

2. Thank you for being our local...

I think there's a certain confidence in a kid who's mom faithfully heals his wounds. A confidence to dare greater, climb higher, explore further, because he knows no matter what happens, mom is able to fix it.

3. Thank you for your laugh

Yes, even that one

4. Thank you for teaching us to love our siblings. 

Whether it was burning the belt, or grounding me when I was mean to Christopher, you were fiercely committed to us loving our brothers and sisters.  

5. Thank you for loving dad

5. Thank you for you.

I love you. 

-James

Psalm 22

Voice: Max Mclean, The Listener's Psalms and Proverbs (Unabridged) 

Music: Goldmund, Clement Danes

Ted, this moment already is gone. The whole Minnesota Tidal Wave thing happened five years ago, it's just a memory. And the rest of this? Never happened. Right now, Marshall and Lily are upstairs, trying to get Marvin to go back to sleep. Robin and I are trying to decide on a caterer. And you've been sitting here all night, staring at a single ticket to Robots vs Wrestlers because the rest of us couldn't come out. Look around Ted, you're all alone.


-How I Met Your Mother, The Time Travelers



oy, right in the feels.