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Of Murkiness, Prophecy, and How to Keep Looking Forward

Posted on: November 14, 2019 /
Categories: Uncategorized

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my

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Kicking, Screaming, and Following Jesus

Posted on: January 12, 2015 /
Categories: Courage, Disability, Faith, Following Jesus, Grief, Henri Nouwen, Pain, Uncategorized

I find Jesus very easy to follow in theory.  Its when he wants to go somewhere specific that I start having problems. December 2nd, 5am: I’m inexplicably unable to sleep and find myself reading “A Road to Daybreak” by Henri Nouwen.  He talks of God’s call on him to leave the intellectually stimulating environment as a professor at Harvard

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The Covid-19 Economy & The Liquidity of Jesus’ Blood

Posted on: April 8, 2020 /
Categories: Uncategorized

“Don’t look now but there is something funny going on over there at the bank” said Ernie the cab driver in the iconic run on the bank scene of Its a Wonderful Life. I’ve thought of this scene several times during the Covid-19 pandemic and the screeching halt of the global economy. Of all the

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Eating a Hard Breakfast with Walter Brueggemann

Posted on: October 21, 2015 /
Categories: Grief, Old Testament, Pain, Problem of Evil, Walter Brueggemann

Walter Bruegemann is an Old Testament scholar who has interacted with the Old Testament in a deeply honest way.  The result is fresh and prophetic (read troubling and unsettling).  In a podcast interview with Marc van Bulck I discovered recently, he deals with messy themes of the Old Testament as unflinchingly as a triage doctor on

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This is Fatherhood

Posted on: July 15, 2015 /
Categories: C.S. Lewis, Fatherhood, Following Jesus, Love, Meaning, Pain

Today, my dad turns 70.  There is only one Allan Van Allen…thats one of those safe statements I can make in the world.  Anyone who knows my dad would agree. Dad, you have been an old-school dying-breed family man.  You loved, love, and will love Mom…its an axiom of my universe.   Keeping that government

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Old Words Still Have Life

Posted on: April 13, 2015 /
Categories: Faith, Following Jesus, John Henry Newman, Meaning, Pain

I’ve been rummaging around in the Anglican treasure chest a little lately and found this beauty.  I’m struck by the depth.  Newman has been around the block and his view of life, self, and God are three dimensional.     Newman lives in a universe that has room for God, man, pain, and meaning in

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Waiting for Henri

Posted on: March 31, 2015 /
Categories: C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, Courage, Disability, Faith, Following Jesus, Grief, Love, Pain, Prayer

Waves of apprehension and anticipation are swelling each day closer to your arrival (scheduled for April 15th!).  As I take time in the early mornings to consider your coming I can’t help but wonder if I’m ready to welcome you with grace.  C.S. Lewis talked about the stresses in our lives that turn the lights on in our

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A Valentine’s Liturgy for Love

Posted on: February 13, 2015 /
Categories: Love

If you’re like me you may feel a little nauseous in the swirl of pink, chocolate and Shades of Grey this Valentines.  Sure, I could rant for a while about the shallowness of holiday consumerism or the dehumanization of our oversexed culture but instead lets just pray. Here are some selections from an Anglican Valentine’s liturgy I

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Lost in the Puritan Woods with John Piper

Posted on: January 20, 2015 /
Categories: Uncategorized

Yesterday I watched a new video released by the Gospel Coalition with Piper, Carson, and Keller in which the three of them spoke about influential authors and who they would want their followers to read.  No surprise, the conversation was dominated by C.S. Lewis for Keller and Jonathan Edwards for John Piper. Keller encourages younger

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Recent Posts

  • The Covid-19 Economy & The Liquidity of Jesus’ Blood
  • Of Murkiness, Prophecy, and How to Keep Looking Forward
  • Eating a Hard Breakfast with Walter Brueggemann
  • This is Fatherhood
  • Old Words Still Have Life

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