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Rick Shafer

A writer and the Pastor of Faith Formation at Port City Community Church. On a journey to know God and experience eternal life. Empty-nesting with Elizabeth and doing Grandpa Rick stuff.

📍 Wilmington, NC USA

Friendly

For at least 1700 years, societies have been friendly to Christianity, but unfriendly to Christ. There's a red line that shall not be crossed. There's a declaration that cannot be allowed.

Rescue

I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.

Reasons

People say they have reasons not to follow Jesus: bad churches, hypocrisy, science, etc. Reason implies logic, and logic is the wrong starting point for Big Questions.

Fulfillment

Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matt. 5:17). How? By commanding the royal law (James 2:8). Jesus is the fulfillment of the law (God is love). And the ways of Jesus fulfill the law.

Word for Word

One Greek word for 'word' is logos. It refers to a message, reason, logic, or revealed wisdom. The scriptures are what God has to say in written form. Jesus is what God has to say in living form.

Tumbled Brick

Years ago, we had the chance to build a new house. The exterior was a combination of cedar and brick. For the brick, we chose an option that has been tumbled before firing, resulting in a more irregular texture.

Forgiving Oneself

Forgiveness is about creating a space for reconciliation and healing. Sometimes we commit offenses against ourselves. We tell ourselves things God would never say. We foolishly put ourselves in harm's way, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

Through and Through

The New Testament envisions the Church being thoroughly saturated with ⏤ marinated in ⏤ the character and ways of Jesus. We take the Father's name. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Sovereign Servant

We can scarcely imagine sovereignty apart from control. Words like dominion, majesty, and preeminence describe an exalted position. With that position comes authority.

I Don't Trust Myself

I enjoy philosophy (love of wisdom). As an engineer, I appreciate the value of systems and processes. But where is the wisdom rooted? How pure is the aim?