I Hate Hateful People: What God’s Been Teaching me About my Heart of Ungrace
Gal 5:14-15 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. I have been among the many Christian who have hated on non-Christians and hated on fellow Christians for various reasons. I wanted to share 3 things God has been teaching Grace and I about this epidemic. Note: What I am discussing is what goes on in our hearts towards others. I strongly believe we are called to stand...
read more“Colin, You Didn’t Choose an Easy Life”
About 6 months ago, I was hanging out with a good friend. I was stressing out about the various complications, difficult decisions, and the struggles in my life. I expected some form of sympathy. Instead I got: “Yeah, you didn’t choose an easy life.” I tend to see challenges as adversity to grit my teeth through. I’ve secretly got an agenda that involves a simple, enjoyable, comfortable life. When that is challenged, I get frustrated, overwhelmed, full of self-pity, and start believing that God doesn’t want...
read moreExcessive Gifts
Twice in the past 6 months I’ve been the recipient of what I would consider “excessive gifts.” The first was a brand new iPad 2 as a “thank you” for letting someone stay at our house for a couple weeks. The other was an “excessive gift” from a completely anonymous source. The details really aren’t important, but I’ve learned a lot from my knee-jerk reaction to receiving these gifts. Here’s a list of the thoughts and feelings I experienced when I received these “excessive...
read moreJust Another Mouth To Feed?
Just over 4 years ago, the Colin and Grace Jones family consisted of 2. In just a few short months, we will have grown to a family of 6! Here’s a brief timeline of the past 6 years: 2004: We start trying to get pregnant 2006: We are seeing a fertility doctor, using meds, and eventually artificial insemination, and find out we’re pregnant by the end of the year. Super excited! 2007: We have our first kid! 2008: 3 months after Elias is born, apparently those fertility issues resolved themselves, and we find out Grace is...
read moreAnd this is the way to have eternal life
“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know the only true God.” – Jesus “I thought the way to have eternal life was to say the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’… no one said anything about ‘knowing God.’ I don’t like the sound of that. Just tell me what to do, not Who to start having a relationship with.” – Me 4 years ago “I am starting to experience a small sliver of eternal life as I get to know God.” – Me today I look forward to an...
read moreHow to Pay half your Mortgage while Vacationing
No: this doesn’t involve some questionable game of chance in a place of ill-repute. Though, I wouldn’t say it is a risk-free proposition, or that it is for everyone. However, it’s worked out really well for us! We are entering into our 3rd summer of renting out our house as a Vacation Rental on VRBO.com. Yep. Other people pay us to stay at our house, while we vacation (typically at Grace’s parents’ place on Hood Canal, though we’ve vacationed to Los Angeles, Whidbey Island, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati courtesy...
read moreFamily Photo
This is a family photo taken by a friend and great guy, Jonathan Willis. It was taken spring of 2009 (or 2 kids ago, in Jones lingo).
read moreLook Beneath the Surface so You Can Judge Correctly
A couple thoughts I wanted to write down about something God has been teaching me… John 7:24: Look Beneath the Surface so You Can Judge Correctly The problem: We look at the surface and made incorrect judgments: I’ve been written off and written others off as unable to speak into one’s life for being too traditional, not traditional enough, too charismatic, not charismatic enough, too successful, not successful enough, too risk-taking, not risky enough… I’ve been judged and I’ve judged others...
read moreFocus Needs to Change, Not Circumstances
I was reading Psalm 142 the other day and it really struck me. Here’s the flow I seem to get from it: 1. David cries out to the Lord for help from circumstances: 1 I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. 2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. 3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. 2. David looks for help from other sources, but realizes “no one cares a bit” what happens to him: 4 I look for someone to come...
read moreBirth Story (Baby Lieve’s dramatic entry into the world)
Note: If this sounds like it’s all about me, it’s because this is the story of the birth of our child from my experience. I’m sure Grace’s story would sound pretty different, as would Kami and Ben’s side of the story. But this is what I was experiencing. Being that this is one of the most exciting things that I’ve ever been through, I felt like I needed to write it down before I forget. Also, no guarantee that facts involving births, babies, and female reproductive organs, etc are correct Elias came 10 days late, and Gabriella was...
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