IBC Blog
eLetter
A Reflection on Black History Month
In recent weeks at IBC, we’ve been discussing the importance of wrestling with our own personal past—our life story—to better understand our present and God’s intentions for our future. This is a vitally important part of our ongoing spiritual growth and development. God has made us who we are through the formative experiences and relationships of our lives: though our heritage, our heroes, our high points, and our hard times.
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Formed
The Art of Comparison
Comparison is one of those words that immediately draws up this ugly feeling in our guts, right? We have all felt the rush of dissatisfaction with our own stories when we set them down next to someone else’s only to find them doing “better than” or maybe just “better off.” Whether it is a co-worker, a mentor, an influencer on social media, or even a dear friend that appears to be closer to where we want to be, or who we want to be, we have undoubtedly felt envy, pride, covetousness, and self-pity in the wake of Comparison.
Hope & Healing
5 Tips To Help Someone Feeling Overwhelmed and Discouraged
Learning to provide comfort and encouragement for those who are experiencing dark days can be challenging. We are told that the “ministry of presence” (just being there) for others is what they need... but how does that work, practically?
Formed
Gardening
Is this a perennial or annual? How much sun is needed? Oh, what about our dogs… is this one of the poisonous plants?
These questions have been part of springtime conversation at the Barnett home as my wife, Amber, and I envision new gardens for our front and back landscape. Before I was pastor, I worked for a landscape crew in Denver, Colorado that specialized in fine gardening. Now, I’m no Master Gardener, but since that time I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and in the yard.
Formed
Suffering and Glory
Three weeks ago my wife and I put down our sweet Border Collie, Maverick.
It has been the darkest day of my life thus far and it was the hardest decision I have ever made. Putting him down reminded me of the sting of death. I hate death.
Like me, maybe you’ve been acquainted with death of a loved one. Maybe you’ve experienced some type of suffering because of the broken world we live in, because of your own sin, or because of the sins of others.
Formed
Judgment & Persecution
About two years ago I was able to have a conversation with a cancer survivor. What she shared with me was new to my understanding. Having cancer alone was not painful to her at all. The pain came when the treatment began. She expressed the agony of chemo and its effects on her body as the doctors were seeking to heal her from her sickness. Her testimony is that she was able to endure the treatments and be rid of the cancer. However, she could have made the decision to avoid the pain and skip the treatment. But the result would have been fatal.