Welcome to The Ink Forge
A Journal
The Ink Forge
We all spend our lives being shaped by something. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. There is no escaping this. When I asked myself "what is The Ink Forge to me?" the driving thought that came out was shaping; as honest as I can stand, as brutal as truth can...
Skipping
My wife and I had just finished a quick workout at the gym. We drove separately that day and were about to pull out of the parking-lot when I glanced over and saw April smiling at something. Naturally, I looked to see what it was, and boom! That’s when I...
The Conversation Of Praise
A Psalm of David. Psalms 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I...
Prayer and the Gospel Chicken
What have I said to God today that was any different than yesterday? It’s a simple question, but a sobering one, especially, if you were raised like me. I’m a Bible-belt born and raised Carolina boy. Church is what we do in the south. It’s sort of a right...
The Pattern of Presence
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. CONTEXT John the Baptist is done. He Baptizes Jesus and boom, the Man that would save the world begins a 3-year walk toward...
JAMES (son of Alphaeus)
We’re not all called to be Chris Tomlin. Thank God for him, but as worship leaders, it just doesn’t work like that. I don’t know the man and truthfully this journal entry isn’t really about him as much as it is about his notoriety in the modern church....
The Gospel Windup
I saw a new shore this week: The Adriatic Sea. The same sea that Paul the apostle and many other disciples stood on, I stood on. The same seashore that Christ buried his toes in while speaking the message of His gospel, I buried my toes in. It was a moment...
Family
I’ve been getting a lot of notes and texts lately about my daughter. Let me tell you, this is one of my favorite parts about being a dad. I love to hear that my daughter is about the things of God. I love to hear about how she has encouraged someone and...
The Other Side Of Faithfulness
Ok... something amazing happened this weekend. It all started on my way to the airport, early Friday morning. Many of Mrs. Beth’s events happen over the course of two days— a Friday evening, then usually ending with a Saturday morning session. This makes...
The Overlooked Hymn
I have a question for you today at the Forge. It’s kind of macabre but just bear with me for a few minutes. I think you’ll like where it ends up. Here’s the question: What would I sing if I knew I was going to die tomorrow? I know, it’s a tough one. Why...
Unwrapped Gifts
Luke 1:39-47 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was...
I Am Going
It's early morning while I sit out on the balcony of a huge ship headed for Haiti. Already, I'm thinking of Him and the smallness of me. For me, it's hard not to in moments like these—so much water out here. The deepness of the blue gives it away, you know—that the...
Jesus Was A Carpenter
JESUS WAS A CARPENTER I read a quote recently that sent me, head spinning, questions rising, straight to the Forge. The thought was fun to me at first, but the more I hammered it out in my head, the more convicting it became. It's about Jesus' job. The quote says,...
Broken Scales
My mind has been on brokenness lately—my brokenness. There's a width and breadth to it that, frankly, I can't seem to wrap my head around yet. Sometimes I think the notion of eternity seems clearer to me than my own broken down heart. There's this disconnect. I don't...
Peace
I hope you forgive me for writing about death so much lately. That is where I am. That is where my family is, so I guess the inkForge involuntarily ends up in that place, too. In all honesty, this story is not so much about death as it is a miracle— a...
Glory In The Ordinary
This song was born from a sermon title I heard over ten years ago. I don’t remember much of the sermon now, but the premise still gets me to this day. The fact that Jesus walked this planet for 30 years before he ever accomplished a single miracle is puzzling. That...
Where Is Your Sting?
My friend just died, and I'm straight up mad. There's no one to hit, no one to fight. Just death… maybe that's why it stings so bad. It's not just the loss, but the no retaliation part. Death takes from us. It steals and hides like a coward. I've been through...
EASTER
1 Cor 15:55-57 Paul says: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. You gotta love Paul. In the whole of...
A Slave To Endeavors
Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” In their minds, their Savior is dead. But here’s the thing, Jesus just wouldn’t stay in the ground. What is death going to do...