The Gospel reading for this week gets to the heart of everything. This is it. Choose the scandalous Way of the Cross and be a disciple of Jesus, or keep stamping Jesus’ name on the Ways of the World and be Satan’s sucker. There’s no neutral ground beneath the cross: you’re either mocking or marveling. … More Mocking or Marveling at the Cross?
Whether its the School Year, or Sports Seasons, or fiscal year, or Hallmark holidays, or the four astronomical seasons, we’re all orienting our lives around some temporal rhythm. Are the seasons of our lives marked by orbiting the sun? Or, do our lives find their meaning in orbiting the Son … More Redeeming the Time, Orbiting the Son
In John 12, Jesus is telling us that life is to be found in the dying and losing process, not on the other side of it or by avoiding it. If you want to bear much fruit spiritually, then you may first need to be broken open, split in two, pressed into hard soil, plowed over by persecution, humbled by the spade that throws loose dirt over the false, airbrushed version of your life. … More Cow Manure and Spiritual Growth
I was getting my oil changed at Valvoline this morning when a big truck pulled up next in line with the customized license plate that read: SATAN1. The employees started whispering nervously and trying to anticipate what kind of customer they would soon be serving. … More Changing the Devil’s Oil
Over the past nine months I have taught 9 college courses at 4 different schools traveling over 12,000 miles to plant seeds of the Kingdom in the hearts and minds of some 250 students. This is made possible by the financial support of MainStreet and Kingdom Partners like you. Let me share some highlights! … More Teaching Outreach: Year End Report
This past week three college students of mine met up at Gale Woods Farm to go on a nature walk together. Not just any nature walk; a Jesus Walk aimed at letting the sights and sounds of nature amplify some core teachings of Jesus. The vision for “Jesus Walks” was hatched last spring in Australia while sipping chai tea on sabbatical. … More Jesus Walks and Kingdom Talks
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and puts it into practice is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24 Dallas Willard wrote relentlessly urging Christians to place real, rugged apprenticeship to Jesus back at the center of Christian faith and the church’s task. The problem, Willard says, is that “The … More Jesus As LifeCoach
Let me share what I gleaned from bringing my daughter to dance camp this week. … More My Daughter’s Dance Camp and the Kingdom
Throughout Holy Week, two competing approaches to peacemaking collide. Jason asks, “What if we’ve embraced the wrong one?” Here’s a great conversation to usher you into Holy Week. … More Fight Like Jesus During Holy Week
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. By this definition, many pastors and church leaders may just be insane. … More Casting Nets: A Challenge to Pastors
Let’s imagine ourselves into the story and join this strange cast of characters sitting around Jesus’ table. Which of these characters do you relate to most? … More A Table for Misfits and Ragamuffins
A recent article on church attendance and personal well-being cites some recent studies that show the power and blessing active participation in a local church provides. … More You Can’t Afford to NOT go to Church
Kingdom Harbor 