Faith in the night.
I’m Justin. I serve as a discipleship pastor at a mainline megachurch. Perhaps like you, I’ve come to believe that the sun is setting on certainty - in faith, in life, and in ministry. This site is dedicated to finding a reliable compass.
As you wander the nighttime landscape of faith, you’ll encounter many voices that suggest the way forward. I’ve heard just about every voice imaginable - from experts and normal people alike. Some of these voices are wise; some are not. But none of them can replace the true compass of a durable faith in God. This blog - what I’ll call my outpost - is an invitation to discern the voices. We’ll listen to biblical studies, psychology, sociology, theology, stories from my professional setting, and television (to which I gave a special page), to name a few. As we listen, we’ll learn from them without replacing that true compass of faith, and we’ll discover the necessity of community along the way.
To whom will we listen?
The Burning Desire of Saul: Part Two
History has referred to him as a madman. I’m going to attempt to persuade you that Saul had a low window of tolerance, perhaps shaped in him by Samuel, who also had a low window of tolerance. The ability to discern the difference between madness and a human response to the lack of being seen, soothed, and safe, is critical for us. Because as I said, this is all a story about desire. And desire is all about beauty, and beauty is all about God.
The Burning Desire of Saul: Part One
Imagine with me, if you will, a teenager with a nation upon his shoulders. This teenager is tall and handsome, a foot taller than any other boy or man. He is chosen to forge a destiny of kingship impressed upon him by the will of a lost people. And on the day of his glorious coronation, he is missing.