I find Paul’s decision-making in Acts 15 and 16 to be fascinating and full of tension. There is tension in Paul’s disagreement—and subsequent split—with Barnabas. And God never clarifies who is right, which only increases that tension. Paul’s decision to partner with Silas and Timothy, as opposed to Barnabas and John Mark, is also quite […]

I started following Jesus of Nazareth, and now I’m a bit confused. All my life I was taught to obey and honor the religious leaders, and the religious leaders have consistently and vehemently provided an authoritative code of conduct for Sabbath-keeping (in the name of “upholding God’s holiness” and “ascribing glory to the Almighty”). But […]

I’m upset. I’m upset because you say that we are troubling people and distorting the gospel. I’m upset because you dishonor us, and you devalue and diminish our significance by REPEATEDLY referring to us as, “those who SEEM influential,” and “those who SEEM to be pillars.” I’m upset because you ACCUSE us of being “false […]

Cold is the waterIt freezes your already cold mindAlready cold, cold mind And death is at your doorstep And it will steal your innocence But it will not steal your substance But you are not alone in this And you are not alone in this As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand […]

Approximately a year ago, we were walking the streets of Neos Kosmos, in Athens Greece with our good friend Erikos. As we crossed paths with the various hooligans and yobbos in the neighborhood, Erikos would joyfully greet them with the expression, “τὰ ἴδια!” This would lead to big smiles and huggie back-slapping embraces. So we […]

When Mark found himself left suddenly alone by Frost, his first sensation was an unexpected lightness of heart.  It was not that he had any release from fears about the future.  Rather, in the very midst of those fears, a strange sense of liberation had sprung up.  The relief of no longer trying to win […]

The Maker / The Boss / The Author of YOUR life & YOUR story says, “ Don’t be wise in your own eyes. …it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth …and your vats will be bursting with wine. Find wisdom and get understanding …it’s […]

I received the following text message from my friend Sean (from Buffalo NY): “So I just finished reading The Bible. And my impression is that IT’S A REDEMPTIVELY CONFOUNDING MASTERPIECE! God is unapologetically upending human logic! Ultimately, God insists on displacing sensibility and propriety with the spectacle and scandal of a degraded and abased man […]

A Ruling Elder in the PCA sent me this text message today, “In one of His many sermons preached on mountainsides, Jesus of Nazareth offers some shocking WOES. The woes are not the woes that we would normally classify as woes – in our normal life they would be signs of success, completeness, fullness a […]

[1] 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 19-20 – being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. … what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? […]