Why We Must Understand Our Darkness

Why We Must Understand Our Darkness

brad larson

I was pretty sure he was coming for me, so I kept a loaded 20 gauge under my bed. I figured he'd come in through my window, and hopefully I'd get to it in time.

In high school I was scared of a serial killer called the Railcar Killer. He was a Mexican guy who traveled by train and killed people for no reason. That's what made him scary - as with all serial killers - an indiscriminate taste for violence. Cormac McCarthy has touched on this theme in his books as well, from Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men to The Judge in Blood Meridian. Senseless violence is evil personified, and we have much reason to fear it.

People fear all sorts of things in this category: snakes, the boogeyman, terrorists, etc. We fear the unknown outside us which can kill what's inside us.

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It - And Why

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It - And Why

brad larson

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

My Dad has a million sayings for a million situations, but "it's not what you say, it's how you say it" is among his favorites. Mine, too. 

Let's say you work for someone and your performance is lacking. Your boss is a middle manager, and she must answer to her bosses. Let's say you have been a bit slack in your work, showing up late and missing deadlines. Your boss must now have a conversation with you. Now let's consider two ways your boss might approach you:

Why God Uses Underdogs

Why God Uses Underdogs

brad larson

Throughout history, God has used underdogs to do his bidding. You have runts like Gideon, religious persecutors like Paul, and shepherds like David. The list could go on, as just about every major figure God uses in the Bible has a major flaw or weakness.

The religious crowd would have it another way. The Pharisees - both the literal Pharisees and the metaphorical Pharisees of today - would prefer that the family of God be more like superheroes than ragamuffins. Act nice, dress nice, and smile big. The problem is, that's an act.

We're all broken.

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