James Pence

How God is Faithful Through Loss and Adversity

Stories

Home / Stories

Reflections on Deconstruction–Repost with additions

A Deconstruction Observed, Pt. 16 I started this series on deconstruction around August of 2022, and it’s progressed in fits and starts since then. That’s partly because I always have a bunch of different irons in the fire and I tend to chase shiny objects. But that’s not the only reason. Another reason is that even now I’m still processing things. The main reason I’ve dragged this out for so long is because I really didn’t want to write about some of the elements of my story that would be more controversial. I dreaded the inevitable pushback I’d get online. …

Read moreReflections on Deconstruction–Repost with additions

Reflections on the Peace Prayer: How Can I Sow Love

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Hatred abounds in today’s world; much of it I can do nothing about. I don’t have the ability to bring peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. I don’t have the ability to end the war in Ukraine. I don’t have the ability to ease tensions with China. I don’t have the ability to solve the humanitarian crisis at our southern border. And I don’t have the ability to calm our turbulent political waters in this election year. That’s what I can’t do. So what …

Read moreReflections on the Peace Prayer: How Can I Sow Love

Sowing Love – Reflections on The Peace Prayer, Pt. 1

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” There’s plenty of hatred to go around these days. And I’m guessing that 2024 promises more of the same. So this year I’m reflecting through and memorizing the prayer of Saint Francis, also known as The Peace Prayer. Saint Francis didn’t write this prayer, although it is attributed to him. It first showed up around 1912. (History of the Prayer) Each week, I’m going to briefly reflect on how I can practically apply the principles of this prayer in my life. I might carry …

Read moreSowing Love – Reflections on The Peace Prayer, Pt. 1

The Problem with Buried Questions: They Keep Coming Back.

A Deconstruction Observed It was an innocent question but based on my friend’s reaction you’d have thought I’d denied the Trinity. “If God is eternal and unchangeable,” I posited, “how could he take on human nature? Wouldn’t becoming a man be a fundamental change in God’s nature?” My friend looked horrified, almost as if he expected lightning to strike me at any moment. “You should be careful about asking questions like that!” he cautioned. Yet asking questions had become a major part of my Christian life. The year was 1974. It was my sophomore year of college and I was …

Read moreThe Problem with Buried Questions: They Keep Coming Back.