Presby-Musings

Everyone has a different way of responding to stress, anxiety, frustrations, and disappointments.   For some of us, it might mean withdrawing, seeking solitude, crying, doing a bunch of research, needing to drive for a while, or going for a run.   Some of us also express ourselves through anger.  Full disclosure, anger has always been my go-to when I'm responding to the challenges above, and it's taken me a lifetime to learn how to approach things differently.  My three boys love to poke fun at some of the more colorful moments when I lost my temper at them or with something else.  I've learned to take it good naturedly.   Hey, it's better than paying for therapy, I suppose.   Along with learning that anger isn't the best way to deal with life's challenges, I've also learned that sometimes it's the best way to deal with certain issues, as long as it's directed wisely.   Somewhere along the way, many Christians learned that...

“I believe; help my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24 I love this verse from Mark's Gospel. Maybe because it sounds so honest. A desperate father brings his son to Jesus, hoping Jesus can help him. After years of watching his child suffer, the man isn't overflowing with confidence. He says to Jesus, “If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus responds, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” And the father immediately cries out: “I believe; help my unbelief!” There it is. Faith and doubt in the same sentence. Maybe even in the same breath. Some of us were taught that real faith means having no doubts. I will never forget a class I taught twenty years ago about experiencing God, and I talked about having both faith and doubt.  An older couple in the class were shocked by this.  "You should never doubt God, pastor!"   So many of us were taught that faith and doubt didn't go hand in hand, even through they do.   If we ...