Note: To get the most from this podcast, sign up for the daily anchorpoints here. 

Chapter 2: The Voice

“My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?”

It was unmistakable. Someone had said those words with him. Walker knew they were Christ’s words from the cross. Was it Jesus? He felt love in them. But it didn’t change anything.

“Do you even care?” said walker into the air, not expecting an answer.

“Yes, my child.” said a Voice. “More than you can possibly know.”

“I know you died on the cross for my sins.”

“I also died to be here for you in this suffering.”

Walker shook himself. Who was he talking to? There was nothing audible. How was he hearing? “I’m losing it,” he thought. “I’ve started talking to myself.”

“You’re talking to yourself?” said the Voice. 

“You’re not real.”

“Why do you say that?”

Because I can’t see you. I can’t hear you. 

“You can’t hear Me? Why are you talking to Me?”

“Because I’m losing it! How do I know you’re not just my mind playing tricks on me?

“I am in your mind. I am in your heart, and your soul, and above you, and beside you, and beneath you. And I’m not playing tricks.”

Walker furrowed his brow. He was losing his mind anyway. He decided to humor the Voice.

“I don’t trust you, he said. “I’m gonna test everything you tell me against the Scripture.” 

That would be fine. Where do you think the Scriptures came from?”

“From the prophets and apostles.” 

“They didn’t trust me at first either, but they learned. Where do you think they got their inspiration? 

“From God.”

“And can you hear God?” 

“Well, not directly. Not like them. That’s why there’s a Bible. So I can know for sure what God says. It’s his living Word.

“The Bible is a written word. I am living Word. You study the Bible because you think you will find life in it. Its purpose is to guide you to Me.

“But the Bible is how we know what God really says. This voice-inside-my-head stuff is dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Because people are crazy. You can’t trust ‘em. If we start following voices in our heads it will be chaos. Mass murderers always say a Voice told them to do it.

“That was not my Voice and you know it. And they know it too.” 

“But it’s totally subjective. You’re talking about letting people define truth for themselves! 

“Man does not define Truth. Truth defines man. Truth is Subject. Man is object. Why are you afraid? I am Truth. The writings you call the Bible reveal me; they do not contain me. No book serves as my substitute. Billions of people claim to follow the Bible but do not follow Me. Each group thinks it has the only right interpretation. They fight each other and even kill each other over their ideas. That is their doing, not Mine.  

“But that’s because of false teachers. The Bible has to be interpreted correctly.”

“And who interprets the Bible correctly?”

“Well not me, that’s for sure. I’m not qualified. I have to rely on experts. People like my Pastor and others he tells me are safe. People who have gone to seminary and have degrees.”

“If you knew the experts as I do you would not trust them as you do. Your pastor is one of my special ones but he is just a man. His job is not to tell you what is true but to teach you to follow the Truth. Do not follow a book. Do not follow a man. Follow Me.”

“So it’s a free-for-all? I’m supposed to just make it all up?”

“No. You’re supposed to follow Me.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Follow Me and you will know.”

Note: To get the most from this podcast, sign up for the daily anchorpoints here. 

Chapter 2: The Voice

“My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?”

It was unmistakable. Someone had said those words with him. Walker knew they were Christ’s words from the cross. Was it Jesus? He felt love in them. But it didn’t change anything.

“Do you even care?” said walker into the air, not expecting an answer.

“Yes, my child.” said a Voice. “More than you can possibly know.”

“I know you died on the cross for my sins.”

“I also died to be here for you in this suffering.”

Walker shook himself. Who was he talking to? There was nothing audible. How was he hearing? “I’m losing it,” he thought. “I’ve started talking to myself.”

“You’re talking to yourself?” said the Voice. 

“You’re not real.”

“Why do you say that?”

Because I can’t see you. I can’t hear you. 

“You can’t hear Me? Why are you talking to Me?”

“Because I’m losing it! How do I know you’re not just my mind playing tricks on me?

“I am in your mind. I am in your heart, and your soul, and above you, and beside you, and beneath you. And I’m not playing tricks.”

Walker furrowed his brow. He was losing his mind anyway. He decided to humor the Voice.

“I don’t trust you, he said. “I’m gonna test everything you tell me against the Scripture.” 

That would be fine. Where do you think the Scriptures came from?”

“From the prophets and apostles.” 

“They didn’t trust me at first either, but they learned. Where do you think they got their inspiration? 

“From God.”

“And can you hear God?” 

“Well, not directly. Not like them. That’s why there’s a Bible. So I can know for sure what God says. It’s his living Word.

“The Bible is a written word. I am living Word. You study the Bible because you think you will find life in it. Its purpose is to guide you to Me.

“But the Bible is how we know what God really says. This voice-inside-my-head stuff is dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Because people are crazy. You can’t trust ‘em. If we start following voices in our heads it will be chaos. Mass murderers always say a Voice told them to do it.

“That was not my Voice and you know it. And they know it too.” 

“But it’s totally subjective. You’re talking about letting people define truth for themselves! 

“Man does not define Truth. Truth defines man. Truth is Subject. Man is object. Why are you afraid? I am Truth. The writings you call the Bible reveal me; they do not contain me. No book serves as my substitute. Billions of people claim to follow the Bible but do not follow Me. Each group thinks it has the only right interpretation. They fight each other and even kill each other over their ideas. That is their doing, not Mine.  

“But that’s because of false teachers. The Bible has to be interpreted correctly.”

“And who interprets the Bible correctly?”

“Well not me, that’s for sure. I’m not qualified. I have to rely on experts. People like my Pastor and others he tells me are safe. People who have gone to seminary and have degrees.”

“If you knew the experts as I do you would not trust them as you do. Your pastor is one of my special ones but he is just a man. His job is not to tell you what is true but to teach you to follow the Truth. Do not follow a book. Do not follow a man. Follow Me.”

“So it’s a free-for-all? I’m supposed to just make it all up?”

“No. You’re supposed to follow Me.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Follow Me and you will know.”

Chapter 1: The Void

Walker’s hands squeezed the steering wheel, as if the pressure would make the light turn green. His wife, Connie, sat beside him in the passenger seat, staring blankly ahead. Twenty minutes ago they had been happily eating Chinese food, discussing what color to repaint the guest room. Connie’s phone had buzzed. Unidentified number. She ignored it.

“I like browns and greens,” said Walker. “I don’t want it to look too girlie.” The phone buzzed a second time. The caller had left a message.

“Agreed,” said Connie said, casually placing the phone to her ear. “I want something warm too. But not dark. Darkness can be…” The blood drained from her face and she trailed off mid-sentence.

“Who is it?” asked Walker.

“Shh!” she said, with unexpected intensity. She finished listening and slowly placed the phone on the table.

“It was the police. Lizzie’s been in an car accident. She’s in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room right now.”

“What happened?”

“They didn’t say. Only that it’s serious and we need to get there as soon as we can.”

They made their way quickly out the door, shoving a wad of cash in the hands of their puzzled waitress.

The emergency room looked like a scene from M.A.S.H. Wounded people filled every chair. Some leaned against the walls.

“My God,” thought Walker. “When did this become a third-world country?”

A sign over the triage nurse’s desk said “Start here.” Seven people stood in line. Walker ignored the line and stepped to the desk.

“Hi. I’m Walker Adams. My daughter Lizzie’s been in a car accident. Is she here?”

The nurse didn’t even look up “Sorry sir. You’ll have to wait your turn.”

“But my daughter has been in a serious accident. Is the ambulance here?”

The nurse looked up blankly. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”

Walker and Connie went to the end of the line. Connie stared at her phone, her thumbs fumbling instinctively with her Facebook page. On the way to the hospital she had posted a prayer request. The digital well-wishers were flooding in.

“Wow,” she said. “247 ‘likes’ and ‘praying for you’s’ in less than ten minutes. That has to be a record.”

Walker was not surprised. Everyone loved Lizzie. He was glad Connie had made it clear they wanted no visitors.

An elderly Hmong man with bad teeth and a kind face said, “Why don’t you go ahead of me?”

“Thank you.” Lizzie replied. The waves of her gratitude were felt all the way to the front of the line. One by one, each person motioned them forward until they stood face-to-face with the triage nurse again.

“I’m Walker Adams. My daughter Elizabeth Adams has been in a serious car accident. Is she here?”

“No. Not yet.” said the nurse, staring at a computer screen.

Do you know when she will be?”

“It doesn’t say,” she said, still staring at the screen. “She’s coming by ambulance so it should be soon. Why don’t you go over and get started on the paperwork?” She motioned to a sign across the room that said “Admitting.” There were four windows, one of which was manned. People waited in plastic chairs like at the DMV.

As Walker made his way across the room, his heart sank. Three weeks ago he had quit his job at the local hardware store. They couldn’t compete when Home Depot and Lowe’s moved into town and had cut his salary. Walker’s credit was stretched thin and he had to have benefits so he had reluctantly joined the enemy. His job at the Home Depot had begun two weeks ago. His family health insurance was in limbo. He wasn’t even sure he had any.

Sirens penetrated the emergency room windows. An ambulance had arrived.

NOTE: To get the most from this podcast, sign up for the daily Anchor Points. And join the Anchorpoint Open Group to share your journey. 

Chapter 1: The Void

Walker’s hands squeezed the steering wheel, as if the pressure would make the light turn green. His wife, Connie, sat beside him in the passenger seat, staring blankly ahead. Twenty minutes ago they had been happily eating Chinese food, discussing what color to repaint the guest room. Connie’s phone had buzzed. Unidentified number. She ignored it.

“I like browns and greens,” said Walker. “I don’t want it to look too girlie.” The phone buzzed a second time. The caller had left a message.

“Agreed,” said Connie said, casually placing the phone to her ear. “I want something warm too. But not dark. Darkness can be…” The blood drained from her face and she trailed off mid-sentence.

“Who is it?” asked Walker.

“Shh!” she said, with unexpected intensity. She finished listening and slowly placed the phone on the table.

“It was the police. Lizzie’s been in an car accident. She’s in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room right now.”

“What happened?”

“They didn’t say. Only that it’s serious and we need to get there as soon as we can.”

They made their way quickly out the door, shoving a wad of cash in the hands of their puzzled waitress.

The emergency room looked like a scene from M.A.S.H. Wounded people filled every chair. Some leaned against the walls.

“My God,” thought Walker. “When did this become a third-world country?”

A sign over the triage nurse’s desk said “Start here.” Seven people stood in line. Walker ignored the line and stepped to the desk.

“Hi. I’m Walker Adams. My daughter Lizzie’s been in a car accident. Is she here?”

The nurse didn’t even look up “Sorry sir. You’ll have to wait your turn.”

“But my daughter has been in a serious accident. Is the ambulance here?”

The nurse looked up blankly. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”

Walker and Connie went to the end of the line. Connie stared at her phone, her thumbs fumbling instinctively with her Facebook page. On the way to the hospital she had posted a prayer request. The digital well-wishers were flooding in.

“Wow,” she said. “247 ‘likes’ and ‘praying for you’s’ in less than ten minutes. That has to be a record.”

Walker was not surprised. Everyone loved Lizzie. He was glad Connie had made it clear they wanted no visitors.

An elderly Hmong man with bad teeth and a kind face said, “Why don’t you go ahead of me?”

“Thank you.” Lizzie replied. The waves of her gratitude were felt all the way to the front of the line. One by one, each person motioned them forward until they stood face-to-face with the triage nurse again.

“I’m Walker Adams. My daughter Elizabeth Adams has been in a serious car accident. Is she here?”

“No. Not yet.” said the nurse, staring at a computer screen.

Do you know when she will be?”

“It doesn’t say,” she said, still staring at the screen. “She’s coming by ambulance so it should be soon. Why don’t you go over and get started on the paperwork?” She motioned to a sign across the room that said “Admitting.” There were four windows, one of which was manned. People waited in plastic chairs like at the DMV.

As Walker made his way across the room, his heart sank. Three weeks ago he had quit his job at the local hardware store. They couldn’t compete when Home Depot and Lowe’s moved into town and had cut his salary. Walker’s credit was stretched thin and he had to have benefits so he had reluctantly joined the enemy. His job at the Home Depot had begun two weeks ago. His family health insurance was in limbo.

The Disciples

Summary: Jesus’ followers enjoyed a deep connection rooted in their commitment to follow Jesus. They shared their lives but did not try to “disciple” each other. The Teacher dealt with each person uniquely, allowing freedom. 

Most people today are lonely. Over the course of their life, the average person changes jobs twelve times and will move eleven times. We live in gated communities with fenced yards. Even in apartment complexes people tend to run from their cars to their doors like scared rabbits returning to their burrows. Families are not as large or stable as they were. We smile at each other as we pass by but we do not know each other.

We assume things were better in Jesus’ day, but if anything, things were worse. Wars disrupted everyones’ lives and destroyed entire cultures. As many as 30-40% of people were slaves whose lives could be disrupted at the whim of their masters. Divorce was common. Just as today, people felt alone in a world of chaos.

One of the greatest attractions of Christianity was a place to belong. This was so deep that they called each other “brother” and “sister.” What gave them this bond? They had something in common. They were followers of Jesus. This was a shared experience but it was not scripted. 

My friend Jim described his experience in church as like being put through a Play-Doh extruder. Remember those? You put the Play-Doh in one end, turn the crank, and out come stars or circles or whatever you set the dial to. One thing that most certainly will not come out the other end is you. There is no setting for “you.”

The first followers of Jesus were not bound by a common way to behave or believe but by a living Lord who personally guided each person. Just look at how different John was from Peter or Barnabas was from Paul. 

In the New Testament no one was ever “discipled.” “Disciple” is not used as a verb. As a noun, “disciple” is one of the most common designations for followers of Jesus. A disciple is a student, a learner, an apprentice. A disciple studies with a Master to learn a skill. But no one is ever “discipled.”  A disciple is what you are, not a method you follow. To say that the early believers were “discipled” is like saying they were “Christianed.” Christian is something you are, not what you do.

The problem with using “disciple” as a verb is that it puts the focus on a mechanical process. Many times people have complained to me that nobody “discipled them.” This, they explain, is why they are such terrible followers of Jesus. This is why their Christian life is pathetic. 

I tell them if they have never been discipled they should thank God. What we mean by “discipled” is a program you go through. I have been through several of these, some better and some worse; but more often than not they crank out clones with pharisaic tendencies. You are put in a  straitjacket and told that God is pleased with the result.

God is not pleased with the result. Christ is a living Teacher. You don't need a method; you have a Teacher. Jesus does not put you through a Play-Doh extruder. He deals with you as an individual and molds you into the unique person you were meant to be.

The focus must not be on “being discipled” but on being disciples. Here are four facts about disciples. 

Fact #1. Disciples follow their Master

Disciples are committed to learn. Their job is to listen and follow their teacher. The teacher’s job is to teach. Christ will teach if you let him. Unfortunately, many people come to Christ with a personal agenda and their own ideas about how the lessons should go. This never works. It would be as if a student showed up on the first day of school and passed out the syllabus to the teacher.  Your job is to trust Jesus. He will teach if you will listen. It's not your school. It's his.

The Disciples

Summary: Jesus’ followers enjoyed a deep connection rooted in their commitment to follow Jesus. They shared their lives but did not try to “disciple” each other. The Teacher dealt with each person uniquely, allowing freedom. 

Most people today are lonely. Over the course of their life, the average person changes jobs twelve times and will move eleven times. We live in gated communities with fenced yards. Even in apartment complexes people tend to run from their cars to their doors like scared rabbits returning to their burrows. Families are not as large or stable as they were. We smile at each other as we pass by but we do not know each other.

We assume things were better in Jesus’ day, but if anything, things were worse. Wars disrupted everyones’ lives and destroyed entire cultures. As many as 30-40% of people were slaves whose lives could be disrupted at the whim of their masters. Divorce was common. Just as today, people felt alone in a world of chaos.

One of the greatest attractions of Christianity was a place to belong. This was so deep that they called each other “brother” and “sister.” What gave them this bond? They had something in common. They were followers of Jesus. This was a shared experience but it was not scripted. 

My friend Jim described his experience in church as like being put through a Play-Doh extruder. Remember those? You put the Play-Doh in one end, turn the crank, and out come stars or circles or whatever you set the dial to. One thing that most certainly will not come out the other end is you. There is no setting for “you.”

The first followers of Jesus were not bound by a common way to behave or believe but by a living Lord who personally guided each person. Just look at how different John was from Peter or Barnabas was from Paul. 

In the New Testament no one was ever “discipled.” “Disciple” is not used as a verb. As a noun, “disciple” is one of the most common designations for followers of Jesus. A disciple is a student, a learner, an apprentice. A disciple studies with a Master to learn a skill. But no one is ever “discipled.”  A disciple is what you are, not a method you follow. To say that the early believers were “discipled” is like saying they were “Christianed.” Christian is something you are, not what you do.

The problem with using “disciple” as a verb is that it puts the focus on a mechanical process. Many times people have complained to me that nobody “discipled them.” This, they explain, is why they are such terrible followers of Jesus. This is why their Christian life is pathetic. 

I tell them if they have never been discipled they should thank God. What we mean by “discipled” is a program you go through. I have been through several of these, some better and some worse; but more often than not they crank out clones with pharisaic tendencies. You are put in a  straitjacket and told that God is pleased with the result.

God is not pleased with the result. Christ is a living Teacher. You don't need a method; you have a Teacher. Jesus does not put you through a Play-Doh extruder. He deals with you as an individual and molds you into the unique person you were meant to be.

The focus must not be on “being discipled” but on being disciples. Here are four facts about disciples. 

Fact #1. Disciples follow their Master

Disciples are committed to learn. Their job is to listen and follow their teacher. The teacher’s job is to teach. Christ will teach if you let him. Unfortunately, many people come to Christ with a personal agenda and their own ideas about how the lessons should go. This never works. It would be as if a student showed up on the first day of school and passed out the syllabus to the teacher.  Your job is to trust Jesus. He will teach if you will listen. It's not your school. It's his.

The Teacher

Summary: The main way people thought of Jesus when he was on earth was as “The Teacher.” Jesus did not teach morality or a way to get to heaven. He taught about the Kingdom of God. His life was a demonstration of the Kingdom and his death and resurrection established it. The Kingdom of  God changes everything.

What if you only thought of me as a guy who lives in a trailer? That would be a distortion since it is incomplete. I do live in a trailer, but there is much more to me than just that. I have a wife and three kids, I love to backpack, teach Greek, and make music. 

We tend to think of Jesus only as a Savior. This is correct but incomplete; and because it is incomplete it is a distortion. One of the most common ways Jesus was referred to by his first followers was not “The Savior,” but “The Teacher.” Here are a few examples.

“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (Matthew 8:19)

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit life of the coming age?” (Mark 10:17b)

“Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.” (Luke 20:21)

“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2. “Rabbi” means “hono   red teacher.”)

“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” which means, Teacher. (John 20:16)

The last of these is especially revealing since it shows how Jesus' closest followers regarded him on an emotional level. At the empty tomb, when Mary recognized Jesus, she blurted out the term closest to her heart: Rabboni! Teacher!

The word “Rabbi” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word rabbi (רַבִּי) which has the connotation of “Master.” This “Master” not primarily a ruler but an expert. We might speak of a master mechanic or a Zen master. A Master in this sense is a revered expert. That is how the followers of Jesus saw him. He was the Master, the Teacher par excellence. 

Jesus is called “Teacher” or “Rabbi” over 50 times in the gospels. He is referred to as “Savior” only twice (Luke 2:11; John 4:42). This is not to say that Jesus is not a Savior. Thank God, he is! But his first followers thought of him first and foremost as a teacher. His teaching brought life and salvation.

We think of Jesus as a Savior who happened to be a good teacher. Of course he was a good teacher! What would you expect from the son of God? But Jesus’ first followers saw him primarily as a Teacher who taught the way of salvation. In other words, Jesus’ teaching is not something tacked on to salvation. His teaching is salvation.

So what did Jesus teach? 

Jesus Taught the Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teaching made people drop their jaws. The response at the end of the Sermon on the Mount is typical.

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching. (Matthew 7:28)

“Amazed” doesn’t quite cut it. The word ekplāsō (ἐκπλήσσω) means “astounded to the point of being overwhelmed.” In modern English we we would say they were blown away. They were moved. They were spellbound. 

There were lots of teachers in Jesus’ day. What was so different about Jesus’ teaching? 

It wasn't that Jesus taught good behavior. Moral teachers are a dime a dozen. If you want a list of good behavior you can get one nearly anywhere. If you want someone to scold you and tell you that you ought to follow the list better, you can find plenty of people who are happy to do that too. This is the way the Scribes and Pharisee’s taught. It left people feeling bored and guilty and dreaming of temptation. Sadly, much teaching done in the name of Jesus these days has ...

The Teacher

Summary: The main way people thought of Jesus when he was on earth was as “The Teacher.” Jesus did not teach morality or a way to get to heaven. He taught about the Kingdom of God. His life was a demonstration of the Kingdom and his death and resurrection established it. The Kingdom of  God changes everything.

What if you only thought of me as a guy who lives in a trailer? That would be a distortion since it is incomplete. I do live in a trailer, but there is much more to me than just that. I have a wife and three kids, I love to backpack, teach Greek, and make music. 

We tend to think of Jesus only as a Savior. This is correct but incomplete; and because it is incomplete it is a distortion. One of the most common ways Jesus was referred to by his first followers was not “The Savior,” but “The Teacher.” Here are a few examples.

“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” (Matthew 8:19)

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit life of the coming age?” (Mark 10:17b)

“Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.” (Luke 20:21)

“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2. “Rabbi” means “hono   red teacher.”)

“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” which means, Teacher. (John 20:16)

The last of these is especially revealing since it shows how Jesus' closest followers regarded him on an emotional level. At the empty tomb, when Mary recognized Jesus, she blurted out the term closest to her heart: Rabboni! Teacher!

The word “Rabbi” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word rabbi (רַבִּי) which has the connotation of “Master.” This “Master” not primarily a ruler but an expert. We might speak of a master mechanic or a Zen master. A Master in this sense is a revered expert. That is how the followers of Jesus saw him. He was the Master, the Teacher par excellence. 

Jesus is called “Teacher” or “Rabbi” over 50 times in the gospels. He is referred to as “Savior” only twice (Luke 2:11; John 4:42). This is not to say that Jesus is not a Savior. Thank God, he is! But his first followers thought of him first and foremost as a teacher. His teaching brought life and salvation.

We think of Jesus as a Savior who happened to be a good teacher. Of course he was a good teacher! What would you expect from the son of God? But Jesus’ first followers saw him primarily as a Teacher who taught the way of salvation. In other words, Jesus’ teaching is not something tacked on to salvation. His teaching is salvation.

So what did Jesus teach? 

Jesus Taught the Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teaching made people drop their jaws. The response at the end of the Sermon on the Mount is typical.

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching. (Matthew 7:28)

“Amazed” doesn’t quite cut it. The word ekplāsō (ἐκπλήσσω) means “astounded to the point of being overwhelmed.” In modern English we we would say they were blown away. They were moved. They were spellbound. 

There were lots of teachers in Jesus’ day. What was so different about Jesus’ teaching? 

It wasn't that Jesus taught good behavior. Moral teachers are a dime a dozen. If you want a list of good behavior you can get one nearly anywhere. If you want someone to scold you and tell you that you ought to follow the list better, you can find plenty of people who are happy to do that too. This is the way the Scribes and Pharisee’s taught. It left people feeling bored and guilty and dreaming of temptation. Sadly, much teaching done in the name of Jesus these days has ...

Summary: The American diet has poisoned our bodies. The American philosophy has poisoned our souls. Of course we are depressed! Jesus offers a solution which almost no one has tried. Try it!

Why Are We So Sick?

As I write this, they are still trying to discover what could possibly have motivated a retired accountant to open fire on a country music concert, killing more than 50 and wounding more than 500. It’s so stupid. So random. So evil. We can’t find words to describe it, let alone explain it.

This tragedy is not just horrible in itself. It touches something horrible in us. As we search for a “Why?” for the crazed shooter we have a sinking feeling. We don’t have a “Why?” for ourselves. We can give no explanation for the meaning of our lives. We go through the motions of living but have no reason to live.

You can see it in our eyes. After visiting the United States, Mother Theresa said that western poverty is the worst she has ever seen, worse even than the streets of Calcutta.

One in six Americans takes an antidepressant. Among white males, the number is even higher. How can people who have so much be so miserable? Of course the brain is just like any other organ. Sometimes it malfunctions. But if one in six people need medication, surely something is wrong. If that many people came down with any other disease, wouldn’t we demand an explanation? How did so many of us get sick?

It isn’t just people on psych meds who feel this. Most medicate by distractions: Netflix, shopping, Game of Thrones, sports, church, eating, remodeling the house, Rush Limbaugh. Diversions take our mind off of our problem. They do not solve it.

The problem lies deeper. It is our toxic way of life. The American diet is killing our bodies. The American philosophy has poisoned our souls. Our bodies ache and our souls cry out. If that’s not a recipe for depression, what is? 

Our Poisoned Bodies

Most of what we call food is only vaguely food. It is manufactured in a lab. The only winners are the chemical companies which “fertilize” the fields and the pharmaceutical companies which sell drugs to treat us when we eat the Frankenfoods grown in those fields.

Julie and I have experienced the power of counter-cultural eating. For months at a time we have eaten a primarily plant-based diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, the more organic the better. When we are in this healthy mode, we steer clear of the slickly packaged food-like substances that make up 90% of grocery stores. Most of these are not foods. They are drugs. They are not created to nourish our bodies. They are formulated to give us a rush and make us addicts. By rejecting these “foods” we have lost weight, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, lessened joint pain, and increased energy. All this is good for depression.

I’m not a nutritionist and I’m not trying to sell you on any particular diet. Diet fanatics can be as weird and creepy as religious fanatics. Our approach to food is like our approach to faith. We learn everything we can and try to make healthy choices. We steer clear of dogma.

The biggest challenge is swimming against the current. Julie and I like to eat out but it is nearly impossible to eat out and eat healthy. Restaurants don’t want you to walk out saying, “Man, that was healthy!” They want you to walk out saying, “Man, that was yummy!” Julie and I have come up with our own definition of “eating out.” We pack up a healthy meal and drive to a beautiful place to eat it. We do our best to “eat out” more often. 

Lest I sound like a goody-two-shoes I must confess that we regularly surrender to temptation. My weakness is Cold Stone Ice Cream. Julie is a Baskin-Robbins girl. We sometimes fall into months of debauchery, eating what we know is killing us. It tastes so good! We’re addicted.

Summary: The American diet has poisoned our bodies. The American philosophy has poisoned our souls. Of course we are depressed! Jesus offers a solution which almost no one has tried. Try it!

Why Are We So Sick?

As I write this, they are still trying to discover what could possibly have motivated a retired accountant to open fire on a country music concert, killing more than 50 and wounding more than 500. It’s so stupid. So random. So evil. We can’t find words to describe it, let alone explain it.

This tragedy is not just horrible in itself. It touches something horrible in us. As we search for a “Why?” for the crazed shooter we have a sinking feeling. We don’t have a “Why?” for ourselves. We can give no explanation for the meaning of our lives. We go through the motions of living but have no reason to live.

You can see it in our eyes. After visiting the United States, Mother Theresa said that western poverty is the worst she has ever seen, worse even than the streets of Calcutta.

One in six Americans takes an antidepressant. Among white males, the number is even higher. How can people who have so much be so miserable? Of course the brain is just like any other organ. Sometimes it malfunctions. But if one in six people need medication, surely something is wrong. If that many people came down with any other disease, wouldn’t we demand an explanation? How did so many of us get sick?

It isn’t just people on psych meds who feel this. Most medicate by distractions: Netflix, shopping, Game of Thrones, sports, church, eating, remodeling the house, Rush Limbaugh. Diversions take our mind off of our problem. They do not solve it.

The problem lies deeper. It is our toxic way of life. The American diet is killing our bodies. The American philosophy has poisoned our souls. Our bodies ache and our souls cry out. If that’s not a recipe for depression, what is? 

Our Poisoned Bodies

Most of what we call food is only vaguely food. It is manufactured in a lab. The only winners are the chemical companies which “fertilize” the fields and the pharmaceutical companies which sell drugs to treat us when we eat the Frankenfoods grown in those fields.

Julie and I have experienced the power of counter-cultural eating. For months at a time we have eaten a primarily plant-based diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, the more organic the better. When we are in this healthy mode, we steer clear of the slickly packaged food-like substances that make up 90% of grocery stores. Most of these are not foods. They are drugs. They are not created to nourish our bodies. They are formulated to give us a rush and make us addicts. By rejecting these “foods” we have lost weight, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, lessened joint pain, and increased energy. All this is good for depression.

I’m not a nutritionist and I’m not trying to sell you on any particular diet. Diet fanatics can be as weird and creepy as religious fanatics. Our approach to food is like our approach to faith. We learn everything we can and try to make healthy choices. We steer clear of dogma.

The biggest challenge is swimming against the current. Julie and I like to eat out but it is nearly impossible to eat out and eat healthy. Restaurants don’t want you to walk out saying, “Man, that was healthy!” They want you to walk out saying, “Man, that was yummy!” Julie and I have come up with our own definition of “eating out.” We pack up a healthy meal and drive to a beautiful place to eat it. We do our best to “eat out” more often. 

Lest I sound like a goody-two-shoes I must confess that we regularly surrender to temptation. My weakness is Cold Stone Ice Cream. Julie is a Baskin-Robbins girl. We sometimes fall into months of debauchery, eating what we know is killing us. It tastes so good! We’re addicted.