Loading...

Remembering to Remember: 2013 Retrospective

Sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees, but every once in a while the 'waiting on the Lord' soars us up on eagle's wings and let's us see the forest for all it is. I need this sweater. Somehow this Arizona boy ended up in Minnesota. And I think the ultimate testimony of truly living in a cold place is that you watch the first 36 minutes of Star Wars Episode V as a how-to manual for your morning. (Well, it's testimony to the cold and to being a bit of a geek) As I venture out into the ice planet of Hoth that I live in, I make my way to my [...]

By |2018-01-16T15:28:36+00:00January 2nd, 2014|Perseverance, Stacking Stones|
Read More

The Missional Introvert: Part One

My wife and I have decided that we want to lead our family as a family on mission. That means that "extended family" is being built around our family's mission, and that also means discipleship is taking place and discipleship takes access to and opening one’s life. Being available. Here's the thing though: I am an introvert. It’s not an excuse; it’s just the truth of the matter. As much as I love people, they tire me out. I need down time. Like, literally, all-by-myself-time: to contemplate, to read, and sometimes to watch movies which makes fodder for future conversations. Whatever it is, that balance must be maintained if I’m going to function well. The interesting [...]

By |2014-08-28T14:30:34+00:00December 19th, 2013|discipleship, Featured, Missional Community|
Read More

Simplifying

Elise Boulding said: Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. I've been simplifying my home. It's different than de-cluttering. I'm not just throwing away clutter, but I've been prayerfully restructuring and organizing in a way to avoid clutter being a part of my life. I've taken a bit of fascination in the many blogs and books on minimalism. I think it points to the desire of an overstimulated, sensationalist culture to [...]

By |2015-04-07T19:14:01+00:00November 1st, 2013|Featured, Simplicity|
Read More

Telling Truths and other things that linger

So, haunting my short-term memories has been the second song in my Morning and Night series. Telling Truths is based on the book, Telling the Truth: the Gospel as tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale. This was actually the first Buechner book that I picked up years ago. It's a short book with pretty simple themes - which hold great depth. I read through the book in one sitting while visiting my parents (where I found the book). Then, I sat and pondered what I just experienced. Then I opened the book back up and savored ever word. Buechner does such a masterful job at not only conveying truths, but in drawing you into landscapes and conversations, and familiar [...]

By |2018-01-17T23:59:20+00:00October 14th, 2013|Morning and Night, Music|
Read More
© Copyright Joel A Bidderman 2012 -    |   All Rights Reserved  
FacebookInstagramYouTubeRss
Go to Top