A Ridiculously Faithful God

By Tyler Dykstra

2.9 million. That’s how many people live in Chicago, according to the 2010 census, which apparently, didn’t count me. But that’s another story. After four years among the throngs of the urban corridors, I headed west with my newish (10 months) bride in a ’97 Camry. Fifteen hours of yawn inducing flat land later, we arrived among a more hilly country. The population of our town?  2.5 thousand.

We set up camp among a Native American reservation in the Western United States, to begin our lives of ministry. I can throw a stone in every direction and not hit a neighbor, a contrast to constantly closed blinds covering windows merely 10 feet from another apartment dweller’s home.

Prayer of Confession – Isaiah 53

By Matthew Tully 

Father, we come before you today in humility and with reverence.
You are a great God, but we are an unworthy people.

We have not listened to your words, words of life and peace.
We have not obeyed your instructions, instructions intended to guard us and glorify you.

The Rising Sun

By Tony Robledo

A narrative, inspired by a prayer titled “At the dawn” written by Walter Brueggemann:

A fine thing, I am: a man of my word.

I won’t make you a promise I can’t keep–you can count on me. I’ll be there. Because I’m a man of my word.

In fact, I think the other day I told you to meet me at the Third Coast–the one on Dearborn–so I could catch up with you and the latest news and, how is home? Good? So glad to hear it. And I want you to know that I’m here for you, and I’ll listen; I’ll soothe your sobbing, heaving soul and I’ll be the one you call when it matters most. I’ll be there–I told you I would. Because I’m a man of my word.