Jeremy Riley: In a few words

Do you think that we should get everything right when it comes to believing in God? It might be odd hearing this from someone with a Masters in Theology, but I really don’t think so.  I have written several times here that God is not concerned about us getting things right.  He’s not primarily concerned [...]

Do not abandon yourselves to despair.  We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. -Pope John Paul II Do you ever find yourself abandoning hope in the moments chaos and despair?  Do you find yourself ever waking in the middle of the night and not knowing how you’re going to get through the [...]

I live in the best of places and the worst places. OK, maybe that was a little overdramatic, but living in a privileged area like Orange County brings its share of  blessings and cursings.  In a land of diverse people and wealth, there is a significant upside to this area.  Nice roads, manicured land, and [...]

When I feel like I’m in a rut, after reading how a follower of Christ ought to act towards others (blasted Gospels and Epistles!), I often times get really discouraged.  God wants me to be at “100%” to be righteous and awesome, but I feel like I’m at a “1” on the Christ-like scale. While [...]

I think sometimes regular people like you and me can put ourselves in the awkward position of comparing ourselves to others, especially those who have gone before us.  We might compare our mundane life with the glamorous version of another’s life.  For example, some might say, “Francis was clearly holier than me, so there’s no way I [...]

Have you ever had one of those experiences where the normal suddenly becomes something else?  Where the average turns out to be above average and the ordinary is replaced by something special?  When the coffee appointment you casually went to turned out to be a deeply enriching experience and the conversation turned into a deep [...]

Let me just admit before we begin that I’m a big Jon Acuff fan  (for those of you who said, “Jon who?” check out his website).  And just in case you haven’t been a reader of Acuff’s blogs, they’re pretty great. He has two blogs on his site.  The first is centered around pursuing your dreams [...]

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.   (Philippians 4:8)   I once took a class in undergrad called “Beauty and the Christian Life.”  It really [...]

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, the one you love…” Genesis 22.2 There once was a man and his wife. This man was told to leave his family and go out on an adventure to a different land far, far away.  As an incentive, this barren couple was promised a child.  Yet, seasons came, and [...]

I did something recently that I thought I’d never do.  I unfollowed somebody I knew on social media. (*Gasp*) For years, I have toyed with the notion of implementing a Facebook purge.  For years, I have considered the great social media cleanse that so many others perform on a regular basis.  Usually I like to [...]