“The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us.”
— A.W. Tozer
Welcome to our blog page. The content here, up through the year 2022, was originally posted on my personal blog/website (chrisdeman.com). As God continues to lead us into different ways of being spiritually formed, our creative outlets have also transitioned. So, we’re simplifying into one web presence. We hope that you find encouragement, challenge, a bit of humor, and honest reflection on our experience with God in the commonplace.
Affection Revolution
I’m a recovering perfectionist. My recovery began several years ago with a “slap.” A slap of truth that woke me from dreams of a perfectly controlled life. A slap that caused me, for the first time, to ponder my affections.
Jesus' Dad
One of my pastors made a statement that rattled me. To paraphrase, he said Jesus needed an earthly father. Really? I thought Jesus didn’t need anything? He is the Son of God, after all. You know, fully God and fully man. But the statement kept circling back: Jesus needed a dad. He needed Joseph.
Nativity Mischief
Nothing says Christmas like a nativity. The room I’m sitting in right now has seven forms of nativity. Some expensive. Some handmade. All are valued. I’m trying hard not to miss the mini pewter nativity that has my name on it at my parent’s house and remain content with those that I have.
My Inner Scrooge
Christmas gift-giving in our home means each person receives three gifts. The wise men established this pattern for us. It has simplified gift buying and paid dividends of sanity while purchasing online or otherwise.
Conversations
(Guest post by Katrina)
This morning as we drove around doing errands, one of the kids missed a sign that a couple of us were talking about. It was a large sign with bright orange spray paint. Hard to miss.
The Hug Line
What’s putting the kids to bed like in your home? Little House on the Prairie or Nightmare on Elm Street? For Katrina and me, getting kids to bed is sometimes like eating ice cream with an abscessed tooth. Let me explain…
This is War
I’m the proverbial “nice guy.” I don’t like conflict. I dislike delivering even slightly disappointing news. I can barely stomach telling cute, semi-toothless school age children that I won’t buy their chocolates, meat products, wrapping paper or magazines.
Revelation in Praise
(Guest post from Katrina)
Before church I read an article about Joni Erickson Tada and how after 43 years of being paralyzed she’s living with “chronic, ‘jaw splitting’ pain.” Her words. Just as she began to “enjoy more good days than bad,” she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her thoughts on that turn of events? “I do not want to be one of those who shrink back. I don’t want to tarnish [God’s] name.” (World Magazine, October 23, 2010, p. 65)
Meet My Companion
I don’t like him. I want him to leave. I want to say “Bye!”, “Don’t come back!”, “Get out of here!” More strongly, “I hate you!”, “You’re hurting me, and my friends, and I wish we’d never met!”
Talking Buttons
(Guest post by Katrina)
Last week, one of the proverbial moments of parenting met me at my bedroom door. A little dark-haired girl asked, “Why do we have belly buttons?”
Welcome to Life?
Thirty-three is their number. Sixty-nine days their nightmare.
Fruit Tree
I’ve been called many things. Chris. Christopher. Dad. “Hey you!” Mister. Husband. Scrub. Son. Sweetie. Kid. Boy. Punk. Friend. Jerk. Stupid. There are other special monikers I will not reveal, and some crude ones I’d like to forget.
Thoughts of Eve
(Guest post from Katrina)
I’ve been thinking a lot about Eve…
Comfort in Ritual
“Take Comfort in Ritual.” I saw this phrase appliqued on the door of a local coffee stop. A simple marketing slogan that has stuck with me. I’m not sure why.
A Spoon Full of Jelly
(Guest post from Katrina)
To read widely comes with work. You have to be willing to pick your way through some titles that aren’t exactly buttering your toast (for me, that’s often non-fiction)…