Five years ago, after attending seminary and moving to west Texas for work, I began searching for a job in pastoral ministry....

The end of history as we know it will coincide with the end of all evil as we know it. And after the end, a new beginning—a new history—will begin.

Elijah’s cave-encounter with the Lord shows us that God’s presence permeates the cracks of our lives. At times, that calm presence may only be able to seep in after a tumultuous fracturing takes place, after a mountain-slicing wind blows through, oozing out of the walls we’ve been confined to. And then, when all understanding seems lost, a peace that surpasses our confusion can be felt.

The rough, splintered wood scraped against her neck, raw and bleeding. Unable to take another step, she gave in to the weight of her crosspiece, allowing it to push her to the ground.

I’m convinced that the second greatest threat to the witness of Christians in the West, particularly America, is the seemingly idolatrous fascination we have with American exceptionalism.

Love doesn’t think of its own, it doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, and it doesn’t pile a heap of expectations upon the recipient. But what love does do is require sacrifice from the giver. Baked into the act of love is pain.