Once upon a time God hosted a huge party. A lot of ‘important & impressive’ people were invited, but none of them came to the party. Some of the ‘important & impressive’ people declined to attend because they were preoccupied with renovating and decorating their houses. Others didn’t show up because they were busy with […]
Do me a favor and read Psalm 119. As you read through this Alef to Tav 176 verse poem, underline or highlight the words “love” “meditate” “whole heart” “consumed with longing” “law” “precepts” “rules” and “testimonies”. If you do this, approx 1/2 a dozen pages in the middle of your Bible will be almost fully […]
When Jesus confronts His friends about their argument regarding which one of them was ‘the greatest’ (Mark 9), He is forcing them to see that their underlying ambitions are all about compensating for their deep sense of inadequacy. As the prophet Samuel said to King Saul, “You are little in your own eyes” (1 Samuel […]
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 […]
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 […]
‘Operation Athens’ is in the works for 2023. In preparation for this mission the question must be begged: Why go to Greece? Certainly, the deployed ECPC operatives will exercise their unique abilities, special skills, and general helpfulness in Athens. However, the primary purposes of the mission are as follows: 1. GLIMPSE our future. America has […]
We want things to “make sense.” We attempt to force people, decisions, and incidents into simplistic categories of “black” and “white”; “appropriate” and “inappropriate”; “abuse” and “care.” But then we read the most authoritative and active account of history and we find that people, decisions, and incidents are complicated, messy, and mysterious. For instance, once […]
“When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases. But pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. […]
If someone asked you, “What are the ‘irreverent, silly myths,’ Paul’s talking about in 1 Timothy 4?” what would you say? What do you think Jesus would say? It seems like Jesus would say, “Paul is referring to the myth of self-sufficiency.” …Jesus was regularly getting into altercations with pompous religious types who propagated and […]
A close friend of mine has been telling me my whole life, “Make the best use of the time, because the days are evil. …Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer […]