Aaron's

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Monday – ‘the weight of a broken world’

Somebody’s got a case of the Mondays. The swing from Sunday has to be immense. The emotion, the grandeur, the entrance - and now, there is anger, yelling and the tables to overturn in the temple. If Sunday was a day of celebration, Monday is a day of frustration and lament. First there was that tree. Mark 11:12-14 (ESV)  On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in…

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Palm Sunday – “they were crying save us”

Save us. They had been crying, save us. I would imagine as Jesus rode down the streets of this otherwise familiar city, now filled with the voices of hundreds, he had to be experiencing the irony of this moment. They did need to be saved, but not from what they were thinking of. Yes, the Romans were oppressive, keeping them from truly engaging or living out their faith. Sure, they had taxes to pay, and laws to follow, but overall…

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Why good enough isn’t good enough

Recently I’ve been bothered by a trend. I call it the trend of ‘good enough.’ You might have different names for it. Some call it settling, others disguise it as ‘we’ve always done it this way’, I’ve even seen awards given in the name of participation - all of these fall into ‘good enough.’ Good enough is the idea that even though something isn't working to it’s fullest potential, it’s still ‘good enough’ - and it drives me mad. Individuals…

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Goodbyes and Bike Rides

I didn’t see it coming. I was on our couch cuddling with my son Tuesday morning when I got a call from my aunt, informing me that within the hour my grandfather had passed. Adrenaline took over, and within a few seconds I was talking to my mom and letting her know I was on my way into town to help. The rest of the day seemed like every other day I have spent in similar circumstances (of which there…

The best I’ll ever know

Marcel Marquart died today. That’s the story he’d want me to write. No frills, no fame, no fuss. But he’s not the one telling it. So you’ll have to settle for my version. The best man I have ever known died today. A man who, even when I was a young boy, I was able to realize was different than anyone I have ever met. He was hardworking. He was a man’s man. If there was work to be done,…

Wounded

There is a wound in our world. Perhaps more appropriately, a gash. A hole from which blood pours and pain radiates. It reveals to reality all that is inside of us, and it isn't always pretty. Over the past few years in America, the wound has been growing larger. They do that when you irritate them. Pick at them, brush them against something, catch the scab and rip it off - it doesn't matter how - when you don’t leave…

Control Freaks

I wish spring would make up it’s mind. Here in Wisconsin it has been a week of sun and 70’s followed by one rain and 40’s. I know it’s probably normal, but it still isn't fun. We had our windows open last weekend, enjoying the breeze, and who knows, tomorrow I might need to turn the furnace back on. If I believed Mother Nature to be a real person, I would want to punch her in the face. I have…

letters

I am broken. I struggle. There are many days I do not know that I will make it through. Such is the life of a person. Not a person defined by a set of letters or a medical diagnosis, but a person who lives in this falling world. All of us struggle. All of us hurt. All of us are parts of a whole that has never quite been put together. In this and many other ways, I am no…

New music friday

Tomorrow is Friday. That’s a good thing for many reasons, but one of my favorite is that Friday is ‘new music day.’ It used to be Tuesday, but now it’s Friday. There’s probably an algorithm or some sort of smart marketing strategy that decided that, but no matter, it’s new music on Friday. I’ve been thinking about my love for new music, probably too much to be honest, but the thing I can’t quite put my finger on is the…