things i write
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my book
by Brian Niece
Something Beyond Nothing?
The God We Don’t Yet Know
most recent posts
Happy Birthday, Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was born May 31, 1819. He is a bold poet and large soul. The rawness and transparency of his words continue to be beautiful and good over 120 years after his death. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] In his preface to the original edition of Leaves...
Fire Fairy Tale
Theologian and consummate wit G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "Fairy tales are more than true - not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] This idea comes to mind as I read the...
The Outsider Is My Salvation
If the person of Jesus is my salvation, then where is Jesus found? In those who are "other" from us, from me. Liberty, freedom, and salvation are in the outsider. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] Peter Rollins calls Christianity the economy of the nobodies...
Two High Places
Eventually we all get at least one shot to stand in metaphorical high places and make a decision.
Live Creatively
Pressure can come from all sides and multiple sources. Sharing the weight is one way to live creatively. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] Sometimes it's a mystery to learn how to effectively cope with all the pressures of life in a healthy way. [shareable]I'm...
Hell Might Be Empty
[callout]A version of this post also appears on Patheos at the Unfundamentalist Christian blog.[/callout] Theologian Jurgen Moltmann once said in a discussion, "In the final analysis I believe hell will be empty." [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] God's Future...
How Shaving and Following Jesus Are Related
For years I bought into the shaving hype: Gillette razors. I always shelled out for the newest razor with 3 blades, then 4, then 5 including one on the back of the razor, even one that uses a battery and vibrates. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] Then at the...
On Belonging
Sometimes our architecture and geographic plans can speak truths into our lives. [featured-image single_newwindow="false" alt="belonging"] Though we don't currently live on a cul-de-sac, we've resided on several in the past. One of our previous homes was located on a...
Your Story Matters
Maybe you’ve been told, directly or indirectly, that your story doesn’t matter. That’s a lie. The Story of You means something.
Why Suffering Yields Newness
I haven't met many people who like suffering. If anything, our frailty, pride, and sense of self seeks to avoid suffering. But maybe the willingness to alleviate and evade all suffering at all costs is misguided. I've been thinking a lot about newness, new birth, new...
On the Gift of Nothingness
Recently, while reading through Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth), one of my favorite sections of Hebrew scripture, I remembered how nothingness can be a gift. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] What if we really viewed life as a gift? This is the only conclusion we can...
The Outsiders’ Lament
[callout]This post also appears on ALTARWORK.com.[/callout] This isn't ideal: to be the outsiders, to be outside of your inside; yet here we are, some by choice, others by circumstance; all of us, sadly, by purloined precedent. This is not the practice He inspired,...