Books
By Bo Chancey
We’re going on a bear hunt.
A great big bear hunt.
I’m not scared.
You Should Be.
Shiloh Battles
A cabin, a cave, or the fire?
The world passed Shiloh Battles by as he watched from a window...never really in the world... never fully out. A blur of activity and empty screams mostly ignored the man in the window until something had to be done.
An inward turn into the deep recesses of self was the prescribed course of action. Self-discovery is a bear.
Darkness without. Darkness within. Stumbling is inevitable without a fire to light the way.
Shiloh Battles tumbled into the darkness the first day and every day after.
Prayers of a Reluctant Saint
The Bible uses the word “saint” to refer to all followers of Jesus. It is not a title to earn or a reward for good behavior. Being a saint is simply an identity that is given to everyone who acknowledges Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We become saints by divine decree.
God changes us from the inside out. God gifts us a radical new identity in Him. We are no longer sinners. We are saints. We always are who God says we are, but that does not mean that we always act like who God says we are. Saints have a propensity to act like sinners. This generates immense internal confusion, which, in turn, heightens our reluctance to actively follow Jesus.
Life is full of heartache, hardship, disappointment, and failure. But there is also love, beauty, satisfaction, and victory. Navigating the complexities of being human is a challenge for everyone. Jesus invites us to walk with Him on this journey called life. When He directs our steps, it does not mean that things will go our way. Instead, it means that we will go His way.
The way of Jesus is rooted in sacrificial, unending, perfect love. The way of Jesus is daily dying to self, transformation, and resurrection. The way of Jesus is the way of the saint.
Reluctancy is understood. Prayers are appreciated. Identity wins in the end.