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Suffering

Select a Category "cultured despisers" "Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder" "Mountaintop" Experiences "The Second Coming" 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 1 Timothy 1:12-17 1 Timothy 1:14 1776 21st Century 24-Hour News Cycle 250 Anniversary 9/11 Abide abortion Abraham Abraham Cycle Absolution Abuse ACNA Acts Acts 2 Advent Advent 3 Advent One Afghanistan Aging Agnosticism Agnostics Akedah Al Mohler Albert Mohler Albert Outler All Saints All Saints Day Allies Ally ALS Alzheimer's America AMIA Amy Coney Barrett Anarchists Anarchy Anger Anglican Anglican Church Anglican Communion Animals Anniversaries of Loss anorexia Anxiety Apocalypse Apocalyptic Apocalyptic Dread apocalyptic literature Apologetic Theology Apologize Apology Apostle Apostle Paul Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archbishop of Canterbury Art Acevedo Asbury University Ascension Ash Wednesday Ashes to Go Ashes with glitter Atheism Atheists Atonement Augustine Authority Authors Awake Awareness Baptism Baptism and Eucharist Baptism by fire Baptism by Spirit and by Fire Baptism of Christ Baptism of the Holy Spirit Baptismal Covenant baptismal vows Baptizing Jesus Baton Rouge BBC BCP Beatitudes Belief Believing Benedict Benedict's Rule Benedictine Benefactor Beneficiary Benton Johnson Beth Dutton Bexley Bi-vocational Ministry Bible biblical creation Biblical Interpretation Biblical Narrative Big Bang Bill Brosend Bill of Rights Bioethics Bishops Black Lives Matter Blessed Board of Examining Chaplains Body Image Body of Christ Book of Common Prayer Book of Discipline Book of Revelation Book subtitles Book titles Books Boomers Boundaries Bret Weinstien Brian Thompson Buddy Christ Buffalo Buildings bulemia C. 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August 2024

August 13, 2024

Chapter 7: Why do we suffer?

Throughout the summer, my wife -- The Reverend Canon Natalie Van Kirk -- and I...

December 2023

December 26, 2023

God will not be defeated

[In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should...

January 2023

January 23, 2023

When Life Sucks

This last weekend marked the tenth anniversary of my younger brother’s death.  He was a...

December 2022

December 13, 2022

No Cause for Celebration: “Can I say life sucks?”

Introduction to the series  Almost ten years ago, my brother, Dave, battled a fatal brain...

October 2022

October 06, 2022

When caring for those who suffer: Never start with your own experience

  In times of suffering, it’s natural to want to comfort others.  It’s admirable, in...

November 2021

November 29, 2021

We are not the change that we seek

Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and...

October 2021

October 22, 2021

The Book of Job in (way) less than 140 characters

I’m going to do something really dangerous.  I’m going to summarize one of history’s greatest...

September 2021

September 17, 2021

Trusting in Prayer, Trusting in God: The Crucible of Suffering

Over the years I have written on the subject of suffering.  I didn’t set out...

March 2021

March 09, 2021

Tim Keller has cancer.

And what he has written about the prospect of dying is worth reading.  You can...

July 2019

July 08, 2019

What can I do when others are suffering?

In caring for those who are in one of life’s difficult places, the most common...

March 2018

March 22, 2018

Life, Loss, Limitation: The Life and Death of Stephen Hawking

The death of Stephen Hawking led to predictable observations and storylines: “He is free now,”...

March 09, 2017

3 Reasons We Find it Difficult to Lament

Prayers of lament wedge their way into the American psyche from time to time, much...

October 2016

October 26, 2016

Three Ways to Navigate Anniversaries of Loss

  In a world of people that are regularly divided into “the glass is half...

September 2016

September 14, 2016

How Do Saints Respond to Suffering?

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen at all?...

March 2016

March 08, 2016

The Last Enemy

At my brother’s funeral just over three years ago, the pastor officiating at the service...

January 2016

January 06, 2016

Dealing with Job’s Facebook Friends: 5 Thoughts on Suffering & Social Media

A dear friend who has navigated cancer of his own is now facing that journey...

April 2015

April 07, 2015

Rare Prayer: Cries of Lament

According to Rebekah Ann Eklund a “lament is a persistent cry for salvation to the...

January 2015

January 06, 2015

Final Lessons: A Tribute to Rueben P. Job

In the fall of 2013 when I was installed as the first holder of the...

November 2014

November 29, 2014

No Cause for Celebration: Taking The Dave Test during the holidays, Question One

Question One: “Can I say life sucks?” Introduction to the series My brother, Dave, battled...

August 2014

August 13, 2014

A prayer and benediction for Robin, child of God, and for us all…

We are saddened and rendered fearful by the loss of one with so much energy....

January 2014

January 17, 2014

Nothing to Celebrate: Question Nine of Ten

   Taking The Dave Test during the Holiday  Question Eight: “Can I walk wounded?” Introduction to the...

January 04, 2014

No Cause for Celebration: Question Seven of Ten

   Taking The Dave Test during the Holiday  Question Seven: “Can I say something that helps?” Introduction...

December 2013

December 23, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question Six of Ten

   Taking The Dave Test during the Holiday  Question Six: “Can I stop blowing smoke?” Introduction to...

December 17, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question Five of Ten

   Taking The Dave Test during the Holidays                  ...

December 04, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question Four of Ten

   Taking The Dave Test during the Holidays                  ...

November 2013

November 22, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question Three of Ten

     Taking The Dave Test during the Holidays                ...

November 15, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question Two of Ten

    Taking The Dave Test during the Holidays   Question Two: “Can I give up my broken...

November 06, 2013

No Cause for Celebration: Question One of Ten

    Taking The Dave Test during the Holidays   Question One: “Can I say life...

October 2013

October 18, 2013

A Vulnerable Church: Passing The Dave Test

Much of the last year was thread through with considerable loss.  My brother, Dave, battled...

April 2013

April 15, 2013

Boston Bombing: In Times of Crisis

Prayers for the people of Boston and for all of us…  Having lived for a...

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