Category Archives: Build

Libertas or is it Autonomy?

And the distinction between “freedom through autonomy” versus “freedom in Jesus”. In a recent seminary discussion, a few classmates described what might be called a Libertarian Lifestyle Ideal: minimal reliance on the state, no taxes, limited technology, an off-grid vision of self-sufficiency. I was genuinely grateful for their sincerity and their desire for simplicity andContinueContinue reading “Libertas or is it Autonomy?”

What’s Enough?

By Peter Brandt | SeePhas The Socioeconomics of Enough A Reflection on Economics, History, Scripture and a Conversation with a Young Buck Every one of us eventually faces the question: How much do I need? Do I have enough? Not enough in the shallow, consumer sense — but enough in the sense of our flourishing.ContinueContinue reading “What’s Enough?”

A Thanksgiving Parable

🌾 The Parable of Old Soil and New Earth There were once two neighboring fields, each weathered by time. One field, called Old Soil, had been planted for countless generations. Its people knew every bend of the river, every rhythm of the seasons, every voice of the forest. Their stories were as old as theContinueContinue reading “A Thanksgiving Parable”

The Rise of Therapeutic Christianity

Sometimes my mind drifts into the uncomfortable places—the ones most people avoid because they raise questions that disrupt the mood and challenge the assumptions in the room. I used to think this made me overly critical or pessimistic. But lately I’ve been wondering: What if these thoughts aren’t flaws? What if they’re invitations? Invitations toContinueContinue reading “The Rise of Therapeutic Christianity”

Who am I?

October 5, 2025 This question has grown more important to me in recent years. John Calvin (1509–1564) was a highly influential French theologian, pastor, and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. For much of my life, I’ve wrestled with the Calvinist idea of Total Depravity—the claim that we are born corrupt and incapable of good on our own. ItContinueContinue reading “Who am I?”

Who is God?

Using an Exercise from the book: Escaping the Matrix If I had done the Escaping the Matrix exercise of picturing God two years ago, my mind would have formed an image — because I’m a visual person. And that image would have looked something like this: A stern, sometimes angry old man. Scary, hard toContinueContinue reading “Who is God?”

David and Donald: Flawed Leaders, Different Hearts

Lately, King David—the second king of Israel in the 10th century BC—keeps surfacing in my world. This weekend I’ll see the Sight and Sound production of David in Branson, MO. Over the past few years, I’ve spent time in the Hebrew Bible, trying to understand its literature and what it means for God’s kingdom. David’sContinueContinue reading “David and Donald: Flawed Leaders, Different Hearts”

2025 – Big Chill

What is the most important thing to know in life? We’re excited to gather for “Big Chill” again this summer! Each year we have a time of “devotion” – usually Sunday morning, but the time is flexible. And, as always, participation is optional. This year, our devotion time will focus on one big question: WhatContinueContinue reading “2025 – Big Chill”

The Journey to my Core Beliefs

Not to the center of the earth What Do I Believe? Over the past three years, my beliefs have undergone a profound transformation. Working within a “Christian” organization, I often found myself unsettled by the disconnect between what was professed there and what resonated with my core spiritual convictions. At its heart, my faith hasContinueContinue reading “The Journey to my Core Beliefs”

In the Beginning

Using study of the Bible to Discern Big Chill 2024 Genesis 1 and 2 Background Our aspirations for this devotion and how we come together around the text Communal – texts from the Bible are intended to be spoken, together. Meditative – texts are intended to make us think – the literature is not writtenContinueContinue reading “In the Beginning”