“If you can’t afford to eat, you need to get off your ass and get a job!” I’ve heard this preached from the pulpit so many times. Maybe without the expletive. The rich are getting richer and richer in the USA. They’re hoarding billions and billions of dollars, and the amount of people below theContinue reading “If It Isn’t Good News for the Poor”
Author Archives: Joseph Givens
Caffeinated Chronicles 14: Wii Bowling and the Kingdom of God
I ended my last post talking about my experience of moving to Atlanta. It was definitely a turning point in my life, one that started a few things and put to the test some things I didn’t even know about myself yet. And so I guess it’s time to get back to sharing about myContinue reading “Caffeinated Chronicles 14: Wii Bowling and the Kingdom of God”
Loving the Truth in the Time of Lies
I can’t just say nothing. A woman was murdered in my hometown by the ones who are responsible for upholding the law. And at this moment the administration chooses to double down and blame the victim for the murder. It’s clear from the video what happened, but we have been told not to believe theContinue reading “Loving the Truth in the Time of Lies”
Inhabiting Immanuel
Christmas is almost here. This time of year is my favorite. It’s not quite the same here in France as it was back in Minnesota in the USA. For one, there’s no snow. It doesn’t get so cold. Family’s not around. So Christmastime is a different experience than it used to be. But it’s stillContinue reading “Inhabiting Immanuel”
Learning to Reach Out Before I Break
Dear friends, I think I made a mistake. Not a big, irreversible one, but a mistake nonetheless. I made the mistake of oversharing. I caused people to worry unnecessarily, and for that, I am sorry. See, the last couple weeks have been incredibly stressful. And when I get stressed, I write. I want the thingsContinue reading “Learning to Reach Out Before I Break”
How Crisis Makes Us Hurt Each Other
I hope that this means something. I hope it can help someone, and that it gives some perspective and light in a world that often seems overwhelmingly bleak. I’ve been struggling lately. Not with depression exactly, but with the overwhelming sense of pain and suffering that I experience daily here on the border. And I’veContinue reading “How Crisis Makes Us Hurt Each Other”
Light Shines in Darkness
Do you ever feel like there’s evil creeping up on you? Like a flood is going to rush for 40 days and 40 nights and take over your heart and mind? Sometimes I do. Most of the time I’m not really a believer. Sure, intellectually I assent to the things that I profess to believe.Continue reading “Light Shines in Darkness”
Caffeinated Chronicles Part 13: From Suitcase to Soulwork – Mission Year, Pictionary, and the Blues Musician from Memphis
Oof, it’s been a while. I believe my last post in this series had me talking about signing up for Mission Year. Wow, how am I going to cover that year in one post? Maybe I won’t. I applied for this program out of a deep desire to find like-minded people who wanted to liveContinue reading “Caffeinated Chronicles Part 13: From Suitcase to Soulwork – Mission Year, Pictionary, and the Blues Musician from Memphis”
Not About Hell: What Jesus Really Meant by the Narrow Path
“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it. –(Matthew 7:13, 14, Common English Bible). What does the above passage mean toContinue reading “Not About Hell: What Jesus Really Meant by the Narrow Path”
You Are Loved: The Central Message of Scripture
My friends, There is one simple truth in Scripture that can change everything about our world. But we often fail to take it seriously. Consider the words of John: “This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with ourContinue reading “You Are Loved: The Central Message of Scripture”
Coffee & Theology 