Tried With Fire

The earth is flat.

Michael Luo, deputy metro editor for the New York Times, was yelled at by a woman on the street and told to "Go back to China!" This is 2016. This happened in a major city with a very large Asian American population. Here is Michael Luo's  open letter to the woman, which was on the front page of the New York Times. In addition, this is an article with some of the many responses to the open letter and a video of several responders. (Warning: The video contains vulgar language and racial slurs. The language is from the comments made to Asian Americans.) I won't deny that this hit me hard. I have my own set of stories to tell from childhood and adulthood of being mocked and made to feel ashamed of my ethnicity. Some remarks were subtle and patronizing. Others were not. I also remember what I said and did to make the point that I was as much an American as the next person. In some instances I tried to fit in as much as possible which meant acting like the predominan...

“Come unto Me,” says Jesus, “and I will give you rest.” “Rest! Rest! Rest!” I could keep on ringing that silver bell all the evening—“Rest! Rest! REST!” “You gentlemen of England who live at home at ease,” you scarcely know the music of that word! The sons of toil, the mariners tossed upon the sea, the warriors in the battle, the men who labor deep in the mines—these know, as you do not, how sweet this music sounds! Rest! Rest! Rest! Rest for the weary body is the outward emblem of that inward blessing which Jesus Christ holds up, tonight, before the eyes of all laboring and heavy-laden souls. Rest—rest which He will give, which He will give at once—rest to the conscience . The conscience, tossed to and fro under a sense of sin, has no peace. But when Jesus is revealed as bleeding and suffering in the sinner’s place, and making full atonement for human guilt, then the conscience grows quiet. As Noah’s dove lighted upon the ark, so conscience lights on Christ and rests there foreve...

I'm reviewing Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson at Out of the Ordinary and giving away one copy. It's a beautifully written, wholesome, theologically sound book on humility and dependence upon God. Something we all need. Read the post and enter the giveaway here.

Heath aster It finally feels like fall, and there was much rejoicing. I am thankful that the nail hole in the roof and the rotting maple tree in the front yard were dealt with before Matthew swept by. All part of God's providential care which I often forget. Part of being human is feeling grief. Better to let it out than shutting down or bottling it up inside. God created human beings, not Vulcans. Perhaps the problem with privilege is that we are unaware of our privilege. In speaking of an elderly person, a friend told me, "She knows not to trust herself, but she won't trust anyone else." That could easily be me in the future, and I took it as a warning. Competence can be a double-edge sword. It can feed pride and rob me of blessed dependence upon God and a healthy need for others in my life. I wonder if a big part of the Christian life is unlearning all the wrong ideas I picked up about the Christian life? Psalm 2 is still true even with the polit...

I first shared this story in the light of the  Jian Ghomeshi  scandal back in 2014. Given recent events, it bears repeating. I am acquainted with both parties involved. Names have been changed and the story altered slightly for anonymity. Jane had been employed as an administrative assistant for several years. She was hard-working and aimed to do her best. The position for executive secretary to the Chief Executive Officer became available in the company where she was employed. Oddly enough, it was not uncommon for a new hire to not even last a month. One person resigned after a week. However, Jane applied. She was interviewed and then offered the job. What a great promotion! Jane was excited about her new position and looked forward to working for Mr. Smith. After a week or two, it became apparent why Jane's predecessors never stayed long in the job. She was expected to run errands for Mr. Smith and his family such as picking up dry cleaning and other busy work, non...

“I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14, 15.  First, then, consider Christ’s knowledge of His own, and the comparison by which He sets it forth... He knows their number . He will never lose one. He will count them all again in that day when the sheep shall pass again under the hand of Him that tells them, and then He will make full tale of them. “Of all that You have given Me,” He says, “I have lost none.” He knows the number of those for whom He paid the ransom price.  He knows their persons . He knows the age and character of each of His own. He assures us that the very hairs of our head are all numbered. Christ has not an unknown sheep. It is not possible that He should have overlooked or forgotten one of them. He has such an intimate knowledge of all who are redeemed with His most precious blood that He never mistakes one of them for a...