Friday Letters

Letters of Note is one of my most favorite places on the internet and one of the reasons why the internet exists and is valuable. Here is one that brought tears to my eyes. It is an exchange between a 16 year old and J.K. Rowling. Be sure to read the fan letter first as it provides valuable context for the correspondence.

-People who take the time to take others seriously and treat them with dignity and respect are not far from the kingdom of God.

Introducing "The Crazy"

From Matthew 14:22-30

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

 Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus.

Peter and the disciples were struggling across treacherous waters in a small boat in the dead of night. It was pitch black and everyone was exhausted. They had been working all day feeding and teaching and collecting the leftovers and now they had been working all night rowing and bailing and praying desperately for relief. It is no wonder, then, in this perilous place that they see a ghost walking toward them. I wonder if some of them thought that they were dead and were now crossing into the underworld and this specter was here to show them the way. When the ghost speaks and reveals himself to be Jesus and not death, they still do not believe him. Peter tests him by asking him to do something only Jesus would tell him to do, something so absolutely insane that no one but Jesus would think of it. If that's you, tell me to get out of the boat and walk toward you.


Friends, the call of Christ is not entirely rational. The call of Christ is not about safety and comfort. When Jesus calls a people he calls them into what I have been calling "the crazy." What Peter does is not a sane thing. Getting out of a perfectly good boat on a windy night to go for a little stroll on the water with a ghost is crazy. Eleven men stayed in the boat because it was safer in the boat than out on the water. Jesus doesn't want us to stay safe. He didn't call us and then empower us with the Holy Spirit of God so we could all live comfortable lives in our 3.2 bedroom homes with our 1.2 cars in the garage and our kids and our wife. Following Jesus is not about living the American Dream. The American dream is just that, a dream, and if we stay in it long enough it will sink because the only truly safe place in this world is out on the water with Jesus surrounded by "the Crazy."


Is it scary, yes. Is it terrifying, yes. Does it mean everything will change, yes. Is it worth it, yes.


~More to follow . . .

Welcome to a new chapter in my life

The fool has license to say what needs to be said and the crusader is on a mission from which he cannot be distracted. I aim to be both, a fool on a mission.

More to follow.