Our primary conversation partner tends to be our phone. Doomscrolling. Social media binging. Fox News fretting. CNN hysteria. NPR self-righteousness and victimizationism. Etc. We need to limit our conversations with these outlets. They are toxic. They are not constructive. They do not cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, or self-control. We cannot […]
God has taken on flesh! This is inescapably scandalous and offensive, but it’s true. That which is from the beginning (i.e. God) has become human! All the gritty details of being embodied apply to God! Just think of all the regular maintenance your body requires: everyday you have to brush your teeth, digest food, use […]
I briskly traversed through the Gospel of Mark this morning. I normally progress ploddingly through the Γέγραπται, but sometimes it’s helpful to conduct a sprightly trot through a gospel in order to obtain a better sense of the surplus and sundry instances of Jesus offending people. It is absolutely vital that we come to grips […]
The Holy Spirit has been compelling me to see that the most optimal context for making disciples is the OUTDOORS (e.g. constructive conversation around a fire pit, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, spelunking, etc.), and in the everyday mundane chores, and ORDINARY routines and rituals of normal life. As it pertains to THE ORDINARY, I commend […]
Imagine the movie trailer for 1 Samuel 18. It would be epic! Here’s what it would entail: Stout friendship (like Frodo & Sam)! Selflessness and sacrifice (like Spock in Star Trek 2, “The Wrath Of Kahn”)! Intense battle scenes (like “The Last of the Mohicans” and “The Battle Of Thermopylae #300”)! Dancing women brandishing tambourines […]
Eliashib is the first guy mentioned in the wall rebuild, in the days of Nehemiah. He and his priestly brothers risked their lives to build the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem at an extremely perilous moment in Israel’s history. And the crazy thing is, most people would be hasty (and probably pretty sloppy) if they had […]
I was recently asked to create something (anything) ex nihilo (out of nothing). I couldn’t do it. In order to create anything, I require pre-existing matter and materials (even I myself require Someone else to create me!). There is only one person in the world who can create ex nihilo …the Holy Spirit. He is […]
Remember that time John was stuck in prison and he sent his friends to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Or what about that time when the disciples of John came to Jesus, and asked Him, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your […]
Let’s talk about Mary. Mary the earthly mother of Jesus? No doubt she’s a fascinating lady, and I would love to chat about her at some point in the future (e.g. What did she especially remember about her encounter with Gabriel? What was the biggest fight she and Joseph ever got in? What are 3 […]
Imagine you receive a letter. You are upset by this letter. There are numerous things in this letter that concern and offend you. The composer of this letter is someone you’ve had your share of squabbles with, and you’re reluctant to yield to their authority. The letter says stuff like, “On the first day of […]