Selective Obedience

Tim Riter December 10, 2018

Last week I made a Facebook post, “Things You Can Do at the Same Time,” discussing that following Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves means that we can care for American people and interests and for international people and interests as well. Check it out if you like. A couple of people stressed following the laws of America, and I semi-jokingly asked if they also obeyed all speed laws. One acknowledged he did not, and he wondered if he got stopped if he could ask for asylum! Being a fellow lover of going fast, I said…

Earthbound

Tim Riter December 3, 2018

God created us as physical creatures in a physical world, and that’s good. I love the slow melting of dark chocolate held in my mouth. The cleansing experienced riding the motorcycle. The joy of embracing my wife. These, and so much more. But we also face physical frustrations. How do we balance them?

Our Meaning in Life?

Tim Riter November 26, 2018

Typically, as we enter college or the workforce, we begin to ask “Who am I? Why am I here?” A bit over a month ago I read the Sartre quote, “Without God, we are condemned to be free... Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself.” So, take a look at the chart above, and where we get meaning.

Transforming Gratitude--Thursday

Tim Riter November 22, 2018

Jesus. A real person. Anchored in history. Four biographies written by his contemporaries. All attest he was the Son of God. But what does he look like? In most depictions in America he looks Caucasian. Shop for a velvet painting in Tijuana—Hispanic. I’ve seen images of him as black, Asian, about all. We all seem to envision him like ourselves, and I kind of like that. But…

Transforming Gratitude--Wednesday

Tim Riter November 21, 2018

Thanking God for a Purposeful World

In researching a book proposal I came across a quote by Jean Paul Sartre, “Without God, we are condemned to be free…Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself.” Or, we have no purpose beyond a relentless pursuit of personal pleasure and advancement.” Kind of describes our culture—a zero sum game where we compete for who gets the most. That’s life without God, but…

Transforming Gratitude--Tuesday

Tim Riter November 20, 2018

Although they’d never admit it publicly, among themselves pastors often confess, “I really love the church. But I sure struggle with some of the people.” And we’re all like that, being imperfect with some rough edges. Science defines friction as two uneven surfaces that rub against one another, producing heat.” We can all relate to that. However…

Words by Melody Beattie, image from quotefan

Transforming Gratitude--Monday

Tim Riter November 19, 2018

The brevity of Thanksgiving has long troubled me. One day. And really, just a moment there, with a quick prayer of thanks before feasting with the family begins, before old stories are remembered and new ones get shared, before we chew down a handful of Tums. Then a good friend, Murray Pura, piqued my thoughts by posting a Canadian Thanksgiving menu covering four days. Why can’t we focus on…

EMT or LEO? A Lesson from Borderline

Tim Riter November 12, 2018

Young adults enjoying the dancing at College Country night at the Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks. Several there had survived the Las Vegas shooting just a year before. Then some pops were heard, some thought balloons or doors slamming. But some recognized the source: gunshots. Before the firing ceased, 11 attenders and a sheriff’s deputy lay dead. But, as so often happens, good rose. Here’s one example, and what we can all learn…

Unconventional

Old Faith, New Following