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the sanctified muse
Tag Archives: kindness
Free Will: Myth or Reality?
Sooner or later, every thinking Christian must attempt to reconcile the dilemma — a sovereign, omnipotent Creator who governs a universe filled with free creatures. If God maintains control over the affairs of men, are we truly free? It’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Arminianism, Calvinism, choice, choose, Christ, determinism, election, free will, gentleness, God, God's sovereignty, goodness, human freedom, Jesus, kindness, love, molinism, patience, relationship
2 Comments
A Thanksgiving Tale
I once ate nothing but rice for three days. It wasn’t a diet or a fast; I was broke. I had managed my money poorly during the previous weeks, and work was scarce to begin with. Finally, I got up … Continue reading
Posted in Giving, Uncategorized
Tagged charity, clothing, feed, food, generosity, giving, God, help, homeless, hungry, Jesus, kindness, love, mercy, ministry, Mother Lawrence, shelter, spiritual food
2 Comments
Christians, Please Proceed With Caution
I have been feeling some misgivings lately about my sometimes aggressive discussion of cultural hot-button issues. This was actually pointed out to me by one of my most faithful readers. Am I grateful? Yes. But rather than ceasing to discuss … Continue reading
Posted in Love
Tagged abortion, art, biblical, compassion, culture wars, debate, education, Evangelicalism, family, gentleness, homosexuality, humility, kindness, law, love, morality, political correctness, Progressive Christians, the Bible
4 Comments
The Kindness of God
A close friend sent me an article that posed the question: Does our sin prevent the Holy Spirit from moving in our lives? The question is a difficult one. The answer is bound to lie somewhere between two cultural extremes.
The Hotel McCutcheon
It has taken a long time for me to write this story. For many months, ever since my sister, Erica, died, I have made half a dozen false starts. More than once, I got several paragraphs down only to lose … Continue reading
Posted in Kindness
Tagged bereavement, camaraderie, death, fellowship, food, friendship, fun, generosity, grace, Grief, hospice, hospitality, hotel, kindness, lodging, loss, mourning, passing, wake
4 Comments
A Pointed Reminder
I just got corrected by God. It wasn’t a harsh correction. To the contrary, my own conscience supplied all the bite. A member of my family came forward to apologize for hurtful things he has done and said. I admit, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith
Tagged anger, apology, blood promise, charity, commitment, contempt, contrition, faith, faithful, Father, forgiveness, gentleness, grace, grieve, Holy Spirit, hope, hostility, indifference, invalidation, kindness, love, patience, secure, tears
2 Comments
Doomsday Gospel
“Westboro Baptist Church targets Taylor Swift,” the headline read. The article had a flavor of outrage, and rightly so. Fred Phelps, WBC’s leader and tireless purveyor of damnation, is at it again. This time, as chronicled by Pop Spy’s Jennifer O’Dell, … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity in Politics
Tagged condemnation, damnation, debauchery, decadence, evil, forgiveness, fornication, Fred Phelps, God, Gospel, grace, heathen, immorality, Jesus, kindness, love, lust, mercy, patience, politics, press, promiscuity, sexual immorality, sin, Westboro Baptist Church
2 Comments
Land of the Morning Calm
Peter joined the U.S. Army in 1981. He had studied Taekwondo extensively for years, so when the time came to discuss his deployment, he asked to be stationed in Korea where the discipline of Taekwondo had been developed during the … Continue reading
Posted in Friendship, Giving, Kindness
Tagged benevolence, cold, culture, exhausted, famished, friendship, giving, hardship, hostility, hungry, kindness, love, mercy, misconceptions, prejudice, racism, soldiers, tired, war, wet
4 Comments
Jesus Loves the Homeless
“I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and very beautiful, but I never read in either of them, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” –St. Augustine I am truly blessed. … Continue reading
Posted in Giving, Gratitude, Ministry
Tagged alcoholics, clothing, compassion, destitute, drug addicts, feed, food, generosity, giving, grace, homeless, impoverished, indigent, kindness, love, outreach, shelter, street people, vagrants
8 Comments
Relational Power Tools
I love it when someone commits an offense against me. I’m not being facetious. I was pedaling my Gary Fisher in the rain this morning when it hit me: interpersonal offenses are opportune moments in a relationship.
Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Grace, Kindness, Love, Trust
Tagged altruism, connection, cynicism, distrust, forbearance, forgiveness, friends, friendship, goodwill, grace, human, humanity, kindness, love, mistrust, nobility, patience, relations, relationships, suspicion, trust
2 Comments
