"The Weekend Wanderer" is a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend. Wander through these links however you like and in any order you like. Disclaimer: I do not necessarily agree with all the views expressed within these articles …
Christ is With Us in Our Suffering: Brian Zahnd on the Presence of Christ with Us at All Times
While I was working on my message for this past weekend, "When Trouble Comes" from James 1:1-18, I was also reading Brian Zahnd's newer book The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross. Zahnd's description of how Jesus' crucifixion opens us to the presence of Christ with us at all times, even …
“When Trouble Comes” – a message from James 1
This past weekend at Eastbrook, I gave the first message in our preaching series entitled "Authentic Faith: Growing with the Apostle James." My message was entitled "When Trouble Comes," and drew upon James 1:1-18. This is a beautiful and penetrating passage with many well-known words, but perhaps most famous within this passage is this statement: …
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Hearing the Voice of God in Distress
When you face rejection from friends or enemies, Beloved, I’ve been there.When you struggle in the crucible of suffering and obedience, Beloved, I’ve been there.When you have to surrender what feels like all of your life, put all the chips in, Beloved, I’ve been there.When one of your closest offers up their intimacy with you as a means …
Run with Discipline: insights on spiritual growth and suffering from Hebrews 12
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" (Hebrews 12:7) With these striking words, the writer of Hebrews radically reframes the suffering believers endure. The writer is not making light of suffering but inviting believers to see suffering in a different light. What …
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Matthew Erickson 