thought Archives - Contents and Containers

Essays August 29, 2018June 9, 2021

Letting my tears melt away my shame

Getting the sensitivity knocked out of you So let me start this by talking about my dad. My dad is a pretty good dude. He […] Read More

Message June 30, 2015June 9, 2021

Paul in Athens teaches us how to bring the Gospel into the present

The characters in Acts are changing the world. Paul and his comrades are trying to soften stiff-necked, hardheaded unchanging people. Paul is bringing a revolution […] Read More

What’s with the categories? They’re all loosely based on Circle of Hope’s idea of spiritual development, utilizing the elements to represent cyclical stages of our growth in Jesus. The posts land somewhere in one of those growth cycles, but are certainly for everyone to read. Following Jesus develops like all human development. At Circle of Hope we see ourselves moving from earth to wind to fire to water in an ongoing, organic process of receiving and enjoying our new, true selves in Jesus.

Earth: Planting seeds of faith and helping them sprout.

Wind: Taking first steps of life in the Spirit.

Fire: Accepting the gifts we bring to a community and our purpose, and learning to give them.

Water: Deepening experience of transformation.