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Death and Heroes

My younger son and I watched a couple Marvel movies and shows tonight. His perspective on the superhero dramas is widening and deepening. “This is is kinda dark,” came out of his mouth several times.

He doesn’t just see the action and special effects any more. He sees characters dealing with loss and grief in almost every scene.

Marvel has done a remarkable job of exploring the weight of grief. The entire creative universe is now shaped by the losses it has witnessed since Tony Stark went through the painful process of killing off his hedonistic persona in the early movies.

Isaac and I don’t get much time alone together. He’s softer than me and his older brother, in the best way. He snuggles up under my arm and feels everything deeply. His compassion is raw.

I’m grateful for these moments when we can explore the hero’s journey and see how we can live our own. He knows more loss than any ten-year-old should have to. He understands loss better than most adults. His mom gifted him with empathy. She would be so proud of her sweet boy.

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365 Devotionals: Hospitality

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
-1 Peter 4:9

Each week we host homeschooling families at our home. The “meals” look more like snacks, but we use this time to share our concerns, anxieties, successes, questions, and advice.

My late wife taught me everything I know about hospitality. She was a queen at hosting friends and family. I have a different style, but I think about how happy she would be to see us inviting people into our home.

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Exploding Assumptions

I “fixed” the dishwasher and it poured water into the kitchen.

Rain water got into the basement.

I lost my wife.

I’m supposed to be married with a working dishwasher and dry basement.

Nothing is as it was five years ago. I wasn’t even a Christian then, but I thought I was finally figuring things out in my late thirties.

Now I’ve got nothing figured out, I’m groping for the next right thing to do.

Surfing the shifting sand is tiring, but I’m finding my rocks. Jesus is the big one. He’s immutable and constant. I’ve found a few human rocks too. Men and women who have stood tall as the world has pushed incessantly against them.

The world will win against our physical selves. It will crush our bodies and our flesh will die. Our souls will live on.

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“Over Protective” Christian Home Education

We are called to be in the world but not of the world. Government school is rooted in material, earthly powers. We answer to one almighty authority and school trains children to answer to many arbitrary authorities. It is the worship of many gods.

Home education led our family to healing that opened us to accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. I’m a new believer and I understand that Christ said we would be persecuted for following Him. Raising my sons as Christians is not over protective. “Over protection” comes from a fear mindset that believes we can find safety in the world. Trusting in God is accepting danger on Earth.

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365 Devotionals: Agapē

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitide of sins.
-1 Peter 4:8 NIV

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
-1 Peter 4:8 KJV

When I spotted different translations using “love” or “charity,” I was drawn to dig deeper.

The Greek word for both is “agapē.”

One commentary bridged the gap between the translations reaching back to “chariot” as a root for “charity”: …transporting of God’s love in man one to another.”

I have a strong feeling that there is only one Love in the world. Like handwritten letters, we are the vehicles by which Love is experienced.

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365 Devotionals: Action

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
-James 1:22

Show, don’t tell. When you love someone or something, it is obvious in your actions. Love for Jesus Christ is no different.

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365 Devotionals: Anger

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
-James 1:20

Anger provides instant negative feedback: the body tenses, the mind scatters, and the soul aches.

Its abscence makes room for God. God’s love clears and focuses the mind on righteous goals.

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365 Devotionals: Doubt

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
-Matthew 28:16-17 NIV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
-Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

Jesus had just risen from the grave. He was publicly on the cross, buried, and guarded. And they doubted.

I’ve been blessed with little doubt in God since accepting Christ into my heart. My doubt lies in my ability to understand Scripture and serve the greatest good.

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.