Growing up in a Wesleyan movement, I was not raised in a culture of practicing the Lenten season. The thought was this: “One should constantly be living in a state of sacrifice and there should not be anything extra to sacrifice during a season.” I respect that, but in later years I’ve come to appreciate the discipline of … [Read more...]
The Book of Job: A Valentine’s Day Moment?
I was exploring in Job last week and came across an oft-forgotten (at least by me, anyway) moment in Job’s life that provides a pre-calamity window into his persona and faith. Curiously, it also provides a teachable moment as we think about Valentine’s Day. Job 1:4-5 (NIV) 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their … [Read more...]
Bible Reading VS Bible Engagement
Tis the season of New Year’s resolutions. Funny thing: As I’ve listened to TV and radio personalities share their New Year’s resolutions, I’ve been hearing, along with the usuals such as better fitness, better nutrition, getting up earlier, resolutions like this: “I want to not only read the Bible through, I want to ingest it … [Read more...]
Advent 2023: Wait For It
Waiting. As ingrained as it is in the gospel message, I’m surprised waiting didn’t make the cut for a Matthew 5 beatitude. It would have had a nice, beatitude-esque cadence. You can hear it easily: Blessed are those who wait. Think about it: Israel had to wait on the cloud/pillar of fire to move before they moved; Saul was … [Read more...]
What Can We Learn from a Deconstructor’s Story?
He was a nationally known worship leader. He held company with the top spiritual leaders of his era. Dishearteningly, he went through a serious deconstruction of his faith and made a public profession of his process. You may not recognize his name, but you may be aware of his work. He authored Psalm 73. Public faith … [Read more...]
Atomizing and Applying 2 Peter 1:5-8
I am in the middle of a random mash up between the book of 2 Peter, which is a letter to the early church, and the book Atomic Habits (tag line: “Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results”), which is a New York Times Bestseller. Through completely independent paths I happen to be doing a personal study of 2 Peter while reading … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 17
- Next Page »