PREFACE: In 2004 as I watched the movie The Passion of the Christ, I experienced a visceral reaction to the scene when Jesus commanded Peter to put his sword down. It felt like my breath had been knocked out of me; I wanted to scream. When the guards came for Jesus, I had almost jumped …
Most people I know, including myself until about thirty years ago, interpret what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:48, in this way: “I want you to be flawless . . . pure.” With that interpretation embedded into our minds, we are stuck in the relentless never-ending cycle of striving for perfection in everything we say, …
Years ago, when Phil and I along with our two kids camped with three of my four sibs and their kids, a thunderstorm came through the area during the first night. In the morning we assessed the damage. Our tent’s floor had at least an inch of water covering it; our clothes were saturated. Some …