29th January, 2010 by Rich Dixon No Comments
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [1 John 1:9]
I’m sorry.
Those words don’t always come easily, and sometimes really meaning them is harder than saying them. But what happens once you’ve mustered the courage to apologize? (more…)
2nd January, 2010 by Rich Dixon 3 Comments
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
Grace and truth?
I think a lot about John’s opening verses describing Jesus simply as The Word. I love the poetry, the imagery, and the intimate spiritual experience John portrays.
In his first letter (1 John 1) he expands the picture of a sensory, experiential encounter with Jesus: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
Can you feel his passion? John isn’t just relating words. He’s proclaiming a deep connection involving his senses—he touched The Word, saw and heard The Word, felt and experienced The Word of God. I sense that John invites me to allow The Word to wrap itself around me and soak into me until I’m literally infused with its presence and power.
But I’ve always sort of wondered about the linkage of grace and truth, which he repeats in verse 17: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (more…)
11th December, 2009 by Rich Dixon 4 Comments
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [Luke 2:8-12]
What’s the point of Christmas? (more…)
29th October, 2009 by Rich Dixon 1 Comment
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” [Luke 14:25-30]
Have you ever thought about the conditional nature of our culture? (more…)
1st September, 2009 by Rich Dixon No Comments
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. Lance Armstrong
Edward Kennedy’s passing last week prompted some surprising reflections for me. (more…)
12th June, 2009 by Rich Dixon No Comments
Grace has found me. Grace will lead me home. ~ Sarah Kelly
Sometimes I feel like a slow learner.
Do you ever feel like you just don’t quite grasp a concept? You read about it, talk, write, and pray about it, and you think you’ve got it all figured out, but then you look at your actions and thoughts and realize you just don’t really get it? (more…)
10th June, 2009 by Rich Dixon No Comments
I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.
Edward Everett Hale
The story of Relentless Grace emerged differently than I imagined. I suspect a lot of creative endeavors are like that—you prepare and plan and develop your skills, but you also have to make sure that your own ideas and schemes don’t get in the way. The final product is often something with its own spirit that existed before you arrived. (more…)
8th May, 2009 by Rich Dixon 2 Comments
Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes. ~ Martin Luther
Those Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.
We’ve all heard it. We don’t like it. And it’s true. (more…)
13th April, 2009 by Rich Dixon No Comments
If you’ve read RELENTLESS GRACE, you understand the varied levels of significance embedded in the question, “Is this who I think it is?” (more…)
