Slowing Our Spirit: Peace

Tim Riter December 24, 2020

In my lifetime of 72 years, I’ve seen the pace of life increase dramatically. Traffic congestion has almost ruined southern California. The cost of housing has skyrocketed, usually requiring two income families to make it. COVID and our partisan political divide add stress. Commercials and keeping up with others increase our obsession with having newer and better stuff. So how do we respond? We worry. We stress. The pressure overwhelms us. And that worry often pushes God out of the picture—it’s up to us to deal with all this. But…

Transcending These Times: Joy

Tim Riter December 23, 2020

Hard times to be happy, aren’t they? COVID: the deaths and shutdowns. Partisan politics: the strife and putdowns. Economic difficulties: job loss and uncertainty. But perhaps we’re seeking solace in the wrong spot. Happiness derives from what’s happening: good times make us happy, bad make us sad. And these times qualify as bad, in so many ways. So, as we prepare for Christmas, let’s change our focus from happiness to…

Getting Beyond Ourselves: Love

Tim Riter December 22, 2020

So, looking back to Monday’s post, how do we maximize our opportunities for Jesus to show up unexpectedly? Perhaps by striking, hard, at the first fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love.” Nothing so immobilizes Satan and activates Jesus as a commitment to transcend our innate self-centeredness by opening our lives to love. The more we love, the more open we are to the God who loves. But…

Baby Cheeses

Tim Riter December 21, 2020

Yeah, slightly irreligious, and we’ve all heard stories of Alexa’s mishaps. But a profound truth exists here. Jesus shows up unexpectedly, without needing Alexa. The King of Kings didn’t show up in a palace, but unexpectedly in a stable. The Lord of Lords didn’t show up at the head of a conquering army, but as a helpless infant. Most of us have experienced that, where Jesus unexpectedly steps in and…

So, What Now?

Tim Riter November 9, 2020

Well, the votes are in, the count nears an end, and subject to recounts and lawsuits and the Electoral College, we likely have a decision. As my rough estimate, this makes about 1/3 of us exuberant, 1/3 of us angry, and 1/3 OK with it. Feelings still run high, because Christians on both sides felt deeply, finding biblical reasons for their vote. But regardless of how our candidate did, what comes next for…

Grace Givers

Tim Riter November 2, 2020

Quite a few decades back, when Dad still lived and could fish his beloved Sierra streams, we pulled off to the side of the road about where the South Fork of Oak Creek joined the main stream. With the limit then at ten per day per person and having 14, we agreed we’d each just get three to stay safe and went off in different directions for an hour or so. I pulled in three nice ones early and kept fishing, planning on releasing any I caught. Yeah, next hole I landed the biggest yet. BUT…

Understanding Faith and Trump

Tim Riter October 19, 2020

Last week’s post, “Understanding Pro-Life and Biden,” had a fine discussion. Some thought I suggested voting for Biden—not at all. The purpose of the post was to help us understand the critical need to understand those with different views on issues that the Bible does not directly address as required…But understanding goes in two directions and…This week I ask those who favor Biden, or disapprove of Trump because they are not the same, to strive to understand why Christians can vote for Trump. Turn about is fair play. Once more, I ask you to understand, not to agree.

Understanding Pro Life and Biden

Tim Riter October 12, 2020

Last week we explored the division between Christians on political issues, many of which center on abortion. In the interest of dampening the divide, maybe we need to understand the reasoning of those with a different opinion. Understanding doesn’t always mean agreement, but that we “get” both what others believe and why they believe it. This statement, signed by thousands of evangelicals, some well known leaders and some you’ve not heard of, explain their position on abortion and being pro-life and voting for Biden. I don’t ask you to agree with this, but prayerfully ask to understand their hearts. Maybe we can begin to…

Unconventional

Old Faith, New Following