This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School Massacre where two teens opened fire in their school killing 12 and wounding 23 others before taking their own lives. So, where were you on April 20, 1999? I was a 19-year old college freshman sitting in my college dorm room checking my email … More Columbine: Looking Evil in the Eyes 10 Years Later
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to his Christian brothers and sisters in the city of Philippi. … More PHILIPPIANS 4: Burning Huts & Islands of Despair (Phil 1:7)
“There is a beautiful and powerful grassroots Kingdom movement arising all over the globe …. Millions of people are abandoning the Christendom paradigm of the traditional Christian faith in order to become more authentic followers of Jesus. From the Emergent Church movement to the Urban Monastic Movement to a thousand other independent groups and movements, … More Whatchamacallit?
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to his Christian brothers and sisters in the city of Philippi. … More PHILIPPIANS 3: God is a Perfectionist (Phil 1:6)
Two of my recent writings “Lord of the Bedroom?” and “The Good Samaritan and the Hitchhiker” are being featured at Beliefnet.com on Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog April 3 and April 10. McKnight’s award-winning Jesus Creed has been rated by Technorati.com as the #1 site for Emerging Church. Go read my post and the engaging debate over birth control HERE! Read … More I’m published at “Jesus Creed” on Beliefnet.com
Any Office fans out there? My wife and I make this our 30 minutes of must-see comedy each week. If you are an Office fan, you probably have realized that it’s hard to put your finger on exactly why you can’t get enough of this kind of humor. It is a character-driven show for sure. … More The Office: Dwight and Christians
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to his Christian brothers and sisters in the city of Philippi. … More PHILIPPIANS 2: The Fellowship of the King (1:3-5)
Pull up a slab of rock, light a candle and grab a quill, ink and a scrap of papyrus to take notes. We’re journeying together back to the year AD 58 to a Roman prison cell to listen in as Paul pens his letter to his Christian brothers and sisters in the city of Philippi. … More PHILIPPIANS 1: Servants & Saints (1:1-2)
You have heard the Christian slogan: “Christ is Lord of all or not at all.” Right? National Public Radio had a featured story tonight on the Quiverfull movement. If you’re unfamiliar with this movement, Wikapedia defines Quiverfull as “a movement among conservative evangelical couples…Its viewpoint is to receive children eagerly as blessings from God, … More Lord of the Bedroom?
Mark Driscoll debates Deepak Chopra and others on ABC’s “Nightline Face-Off” over the question: “Does Satan exist?” Very lively and entertaining debate. Watch the whole debate HERE. What did you think?
Many of us can “talk the talk” when it comes to faith; but the sincerity of one’s faith is really tested in the fiery furnace of trials and tribulations that life brings our way. Todd Johnson has been fighting terminal brain cancer since October 2008. I had the opportunity to sit down with him this … More Heroic Faith: Todd Johnson
I dove into the deep, philosophical writings of 17th century math prodigy, scientific pioneer and Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal for a little change of pace. He speaks of the irrational folly of those anti-religious skeptics who never sincerely give the Christian faith an honest examination but write it off a priori…. … More Blaise Pascal on Seeking, Unbelief & Indifference
What happens when the gospel of the Jesus-shaped Kingdom of God is intermixed with a political ideology? Answer: Listen to any political talk show pushing a political agenda while buttressing it with religious rhetoric usually involving the phrase “Judeo-Christian” values. Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, offers a very timely reminder to the millions of American … More “The Limbaughization of Christianity”
In middle school we sat at the lunch table together . In high school we ran out of gas discussing our girl problems in an idling car. In college we shared a dorm room, fought over music and messes and grew in our faith leaps and bounds. After college we were each other’s best man … More Congrats Peter & Joy!!
Have you seen this yet? Comedian Louis CK on Conan O’Brien, October 1st, 2008. Louis speaks of how our generation has been spoiled by technology.
Click here to access the audio from the evening So, did you read “The Shack” yet? Are you wondering what all the hype is about? Is it theological heresy or good Christian fiction? I read the book and found it a very provocative and powerful window into the outrageous love and healing grace of God … More Shack Chat with David Clark
I love my life! God is so good! Enjoy!
Does this graphically make my points about the dangers of micro-communication and the movement of people in our culture toward a “soundbite Christianity?” (Read previous post here) “Just give me a small dose of Jesus when and where I want it.” Thanks for the image, Joe!
Brian McCracken from Relevant Magazine article called “The Problem of Pride in the Age of Twitter” tackles the quiet, subtle, unseen trend related to a culture of micro-communication: “We’ve become addicted to a strange sort of connectivity – a connectivity that maintains a comfortable balance between distance and proximity, anonymity and overexposure. We’ve become … More TWITTER BUG – A Disturbing Trend?
The Cosmic Dance by Greg Boyd (forthcoming) Since we’re on the theme of the cosmic dance, here’s a fascinating project by Greg Boyd, one of my biggest influences and favorite teachers. Get ready egg-heads!! “Christus Victor Ministries is working with an artist, page designer and photographer to create The Cosmic Dance. Using funky art and creative photography, the … More “The Cosmic Dance” by Greg Boyd
In my previous post I suggested today’s youth culture can help remind us what really distinguishes a healthy church from a sick, diseased or dying church: “Are the individuals who make up that church authentically regenerated, committed followers of Christ whose lives bear outward evidence of the inward sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit?” Teens … More SINKING (3): Patching Leaks #1 – Culture Christians
The Internet Monk Michael Spencer recently devoted 3 blog posts to describing the coming Evangelical collapse in America. I recently posed the same question: “Is the Evangelical Church in America sinking?” I think I want to bring my observations from the perspective of a youth pastor since that is where I’m currently ministering. The evangelical … More SINKING (2): A Church Health Lesson from our Teens
Here’s classic Mark Driscoll – the man who inspires me one moment and drives me crazy the next. Many people would say that you either love him or hate him. I’m one of the few who can’t make up their mind. He’s boldly preaching the Word and God is using him to reach a tough, … More Mark Driscoll on Nightline
“I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people and I will be their God” (Ezek 11:19-20). Many still view youth ministry as a second-class calling, a holding tank for immature, video-playing … More Guitar Hero & Open Heart Surgery
What is the future of the evangelical church in America? I just read a devastating post by fellow blogger the Internet Monk predicting a sooner-than-later collapse of the evangelical church in America. While this prediction maybe distanced theoretical speculation for some, it is an urgent wake up call to those of us youth pastors laboring … More SINKING (1): Is the Evangelical boat sinking?
Kingdom Harbor 