family

Reverse Chronological Snobbery

By Scott Keith –

I think that I suffer from a condition. This situation severely influences the way that I interact with the world around me and the people that I encounter in that world. The condition from which I suffer is Reverse Chronological Snobbery. Some of you may be more familiar with my condition’s close cousin, Chronological Snobbery, which, C.S. Lewis claimed he labored under for many years. Chronological Snobbery, as defined by Lewis, is “the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our age and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is on that count discredited.”

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Being Known

By Paul Koch –

In our home, a home with a lot of children running around, there is a call that can be heard echoing throughout more than any other. From the youngest to the oldest and at all times of the day and night you can hear one of the children calling, “Moooom…” Now we believe that a basic goal of parenting is to aid your children toward emancipation and so we don’t cater to our children’s every whim; yet whenever a child can’t find something, or can’t figure something out, or is hungry, or almost any other imaginable circumstance arises in his/her life, the kneejerk reaction is to call for mom. The reason for this is simple, moms know things.

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Fireplace Church

By Cindy Koch –

For years, I was told that church was a place of refuge. My pastor spoke of this mighty fortress of strength. My Sunday school teachers taught about this safe place of pasture. My parents talked about these people as if they were familiar relatives. And so I just assumed that church was a good place.

Like the warm Christmas fire, I can remember the red brick fireplace of my youth and the warm, soft church chairs on a Sunday morning.

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Together We Conquer

By Paul Koch –

“The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Rev. 21:7

A bunch of awkward looking pastors stand around decked out in their white robes and red stoles. They’re talking to each other using those shallow and empty pleasantries of untrusting professionals. Nothing substantive is discussed, nothing really funny is being said (though there is still that polite laughter you get when coworkers mingle), and all in all, everyone is most likely thinking about what the rest of their day will be like after the reason for their coming together is completed.

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My Bitter Heart Is A Mask Of God

By Cindy Koch –

In June of 1999, I experienced humidity for the first time. Growing up in Coastal Southern California, the only time I ever inhaled dense wet air is when I happened to set foot in an indoor pool (which was very rare, even then). But that summer, seven months pregnant, I breathed the heavy hot atmosphere of my new home in St. Louis, Missouri. Two newly married crazy college kids had just embarked on this adventure called life. Paul and I had graduated from Concordia Irvine. He was pre-sem, and I left with a smattering of theology course credits. BA degrees done, we looked into the future excited for what the future held.

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To Esther

By Scott Keith –

10 April 2016

Dearest Esther,

I love you. You were born 7 April 2016, and you were baptized into Christ today. When I first saw you, my heart leaped for joy. I had many of the same feelings looking at you as I did when I first saw your dad, Uncle Josh, and Aunt Autumn after they were born. But, seeing you was, in some ways, different. When I saw you, I not only rejoiced for myself and your Grandmother, but I got to celebrate with your Dad and Mom as well. You are their child, and by that, I am your Grandfather.

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Work Hard, Play Harder

By Jaime Nava –

As a kid, I walked to school. I started with my mom in kindergarten and walked to school all the way to my senior year in high school. Once I got to school, the bell would ring and we’d get to work. Of course, as a kid, I just wanted to be done and go have fun. Recess and lunch were nice, but it was when school was out that the fun happened. And Summer. Oh sweet glorious summer. I’d burn my feet on the street going to the local market to buy twenty-five cent candy. I’d play until the street lights came on.

From an early age, I was taught that you work hard from nine to five. I was also taught that you play harder when you’re out.

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When Church Is Too Hard

By Cindy Koch –

I dread Sunday morning. Nervous sleep pesters me until about 6:30 am. The alarm finally rings, giving me official permission to begin preparations. I shower and dress quietly and cautiously, so as to not wake the babies in the next room. I knew once they were up my hands would be busy with them, and I might not get to my makeup this week, again. Throw on the dress, wipe on mascara, just in time.

“Moooooom!”

The little ones meet the morning with cranky, hungry tears and wake the older ones, also now grouchy from the rude awakening. As everyone tumbles out of bed, they limp to the kitchen looking for food. “Sunday morning church!” I say.

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Scared Shitless

By Caleb Keith –

I vividly remember the comments, advice, and criticism of pretty much everybody I encountered when I was preparing to get married. The most common response to this information was, “How old are you?” or “I hope you know what your getting into.” Many others asserted I was throwing my life and my freedom away while only a few responded joyously or with legitimate loving concern. Questions and comments like the examples above were shallow and general concerns about age and autonomy. Two years later I find myself under the same type of scrutiny as I eagerly await the birth of my daughter.

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Prodigals, Older Brothers, and Cousins

By Scott Keith –

A few weeks ago, I was honored to be a plenary speaker at the now much lauded Christ Hold Fast (CHF) conference. For many, it was a life changing event. Why? Because the unadulterated Gospel of Christ was handed over with detail and passion for the sinner, over and over again. The speakers were fantastic. They faithfully proclaimed Christ and the forgiveness of sins through God’s radical pursuit of “prodigals” just like us.

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Home Schooled Kids Are Awkward, Weird, and Lack Socialization! Right?

 

Hello again, readers!

After the overwhelming success of Rachel’s article last week, I feel it is appropriate to run one more of her articles this week. Who knows, this may be the start of something big. The Jagged Word, or 1517 the Legacy Project for that matter, are always looking for new writers. Rachel is incredibly talented, and her insights into the world of motherhood are honest, gritty, and centered on the Gospel of Christ. Please enjoy one more article from Mrs. Rachel Francisco.

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A Plea to our Next President

By Graham Glover –

We are less than 9 months away from electing the next President of the United States. After months of talk and preparation, the electorate and pundits are knee deep in the primaries. There are still a lot of votes to be cast, but I suspect that after the 15th of March we will have a pretty good idea of who the nominees are going to be for each party.

Like almost every other political prognosticator, I am at a loss for how the 2016 election is unfolding.

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Beautiful Chaos – Neat and Tidy

By Scott Keith –

*Dear Readers:

Mrs. Rachel Francisco is the author of this blog. She is the wife of Dr. Adam Francisco and mother of four. I consider it an honor to take the opportunity to give up my regular spot to give others a “shot” at making their voice public.

Rachel has done so beautifully here. I ask you to consider her words and leave her feedback. In my opinion, she is a natural writer. Her words should not be ignored

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In the Details?

By Jaime Nava –

Although I do spend time playing digital games, I also enjoy the occasional tabletop adventure. This means sitting around a table with others, usually my family, playing out a story with individual characters. We’ve started doing this relatively recently and one of the people who has the most fun is, believe it or not, my mom. We roll dice. We eat junk food. We say what our character would do and sometimes we even speak for them. It’s really a good time all around. What is it that we play? Dungeons and Dragons.

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Where are the women? We’ve been here the whole time.

By Cindy Koch –

I know, I know. Ladies, don’t be too hard on him. The Man has posed an honest question about our society and our faith. He observed that men can look like sexist jerks by believing the word of God; so where is the honor for women today? He tried to stand up and defend our freedom, but we know how very short that answer falls. It’s easy to wonder on the outside, rather than to be the woman who must mold her life in the midst of the muck.

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Too Tired to Think

 

By Jaime Nava –

Tomorrow is moving day. Cool. Leading up to moving day has been a ton of work. Wife and I just bought our first home and we had the bright idea to renovate it. Take out a wall here. Put up some drywall there. Seems easy. It wasn’t. If not for the help of people around us, our family, friends, and congregation, I don’t know how anything would have gotten done. Along with my regular duties as pastor, the studying, the people to visit, the reading, the bible studies, and along with my wife being over 8 weeks along, and with this move, I am so stinking tired. I feel too tired to think.

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Evangelism by Procreation

By Cindy Koch –

Watching a birth is a single most amazing revelation of the creative powers of our God. Even if you don’t believe in a God, you cannot escape the complex miracle of human life produced before your very eyes. The small soft tissue grows to resemble the eyes and skin and breath of the very same creature from where she came. Tiny blood vessels and miniature fingers, soft eyelashes and little baby toenails. This wonderful creation is born completely helpless and dependent in relationship with her parents and her God.

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