Category Archives: Devotional Reflection

Rob Bell “Love Wins” Chapter 4 Review, Good Friday Edition

Posted on April 22, 2011 by PaulVK

Does God Get What He Wants? I haven’t written another chapter review from Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” for a while but today is probably as appropriate a day to answer the question posed by the title of chapter 4. “Does … Continue reading →

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The Singularity of Jesus and his claim for universality

Posted on March 4, 2011 by PaulVK

Wrote this as a response to Bont on CiC who wrote a response to Tim Keller’s book “The King’s Cross”. I’ve been preaching through Luke for a couple of years now. I’ve really enjoyed staying with one book for a … Continue reading →

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My Presumptive Exclusion From Suffering

Posted on February 7, 2011 by PaulVK

Despite nearly everything from both Jesus and the apostles it seems that the American church has whole heartedly embraced a notion that the cross of Jesus Christ means I won’t have to suffer. When suffering comes we cry out that … Continue reading →

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My Hour Has Not Yet Come

Posted on January 20, 2011 by PaulVK

I love the story of Jesus at Cana and Mary’s request. I haven’t looked at this passage in depth for a while but I read it devotionally this morning. The timing of Jesus’ public ministry I think is mysterious for … Continue reading →

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Why Praying Evangelistically for My Children is Painful

Posted on December 18, 2010 by PaulVK

I believe my former notions of evangelism were shallow and simplistic. I imagined evangelism to be an exercise by which someone simply switched religious allegiances. It’s easy to see where I got this idea from. Evangelism as portrayed and taught … Continue reading →

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My Shitty Intercessory Prayers

Posted on December 17, 2010 by PaulVK

I don’t think many of my intercessory prayers are very noble. They are often selfish. I often pray for things I cannot do. That’s fine, but I also find myself praying for God to do things I am unwilling to … Continue reading →

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A Christmas Comment

Posted on December 9, 2010 by PaulVK

There is no doubt that this holiday becomes an opportunity to express a variety of agendas. 1. The economic agenda: consumer spending help return us to prosperity 2. The Christendom agenda: recapture cultural dominance of a religious tradition from its … Continue reading →

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The Antithesis

Posted on December 2, 2010 by PaulVK

As I continue to ponder Romans 15 in the context of last week’s passage (Romans 13:11-14) I can’t help but think about the antithesis between Paul and Jesus’ teaching and what all of the world presses me to believe. Paul … Continue reading →

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Fear Energizes Moralism, Desire Energizes Gospel Living

Posted on December 1, 2010 by PaulVK

I’m working on Romans 15 for this week’s sermon. I’m struck both by the audacity of Paul’s invitation and the difficulty of following along. The theology is so self-giving, so cruciform, so strenuous. I’m also struck at how deeply moralism … Continue reading →

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God’s Gentleness, Patience and Silence as necessary precursors for his intimacy with us.

Posted on December 1, 2010 by PaulVK

God’s Gentleness, Patience and Silence as necessary precursors for his intimacy with us. In Chuck De Groat’s wonderful piece on singleness in the church he highlights a very foundational yet too-little-known truth that safety is more important than we know. … Continue reading →

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