In honor of Black History month, I want to share a piece I wrote last fall in the midst of all the NFL players taking a knee, but did not publish out of fear of ruffing some feathers. But sometimes feathers need to be gently ruffled. Sometimes we need to have our eyes opened and … More Taking A Knee for Black History Month
God’s Word to us doesn’t always have shiny wrapping and a big red bow attached. God’s Word isn’t always warm and fuzzy. God’s Word sometimes needs to hit us like a ton of bricks. Sometimes we need a wake up call or a holy confrontation. … More THE BIBLE: Confrontation & Summons
This Psalm 119 mountain trek leads us not ultimately to some arrogant moral high ground from which to thumb our nose at the sinners down below. The Psalm is a celebration of the perfect revelation of God’s Law, and if we’ll follow it all the way up, we’ll find ourselves standing at the pinnacle of all human existence, at the place where “grace and truth” shine brightly from the radiant glow of the face of Jesus Christ. … More Scorn on the Mount (Psalm 119:17-32)
One of the highlights of my ministry in my hometown is also one of the most painful experiences. In the summer of 2012, the City of Mound celebrated its 100th birthday during our annual City Days festival in July. A group of pastors I met with regularly began to coordinate with city leaders to organize … More Me & Billy G – Evangelistic & Ecumenical
Have you heard this one? Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte, North Carolina, after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver. ‘You know’ he said, ‘I am 87 years old and I have never driven … More Billy’s Limo
Ever look back at your parents’ year books and laugh and gag at how ridiculous they appear? Ever read the embarrassing notes your friends scribbled in the margins of your year book? Acne covered faces, scrawny legs and awful hairdos. Many of us would like to bury or burn ours. Yet they are a part of us. … More THE BIBLE: God’s (Crazy) Family Album
I was entering my senior year of college, finishing up a B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies and a minor in New Testament Greek. But I was never going to be a pastor! I had absolutely no desire to lead a church. I was 21 years old with a deep hunger to study the Scriptures … More Me & Billy G – First Job (Almost)
Enjoy some inspiring and memorable quotes from Billy Graham: “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.” “Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater—the love of God.” “They asked her (Ruth … More Quotables: Billy Graham
A repost from May 2012. Let me tell you about the week I just spent with Billy Graham. Ok, not really with him. But I spent my week in Florida studying the life and ministry of Billy Graham. I read a biography, part of his autobiography, watched a documentary and the movie Billy: The Early Years that … More Me & Billy G – A Pilgrimage
If Jesus is the perfect embodiment of Torah, what happens if we insert “Jesus” or “Jesus’ Way” every place we find “Torah” in the Mishnah’s ‘Sayings of the Sages’? I think you’ll find it quite fascinating. … More Jesus Crashes the Mishnah
“In those days there were giants in the land…” Genesis 6:4 I grew up a few blocks from from Highland Park in Mound. The park where I learned to fly a kite as a boy was once the old Baptist Assembly Grounds, and before that the Keswick Camp grounds. In the early 60s, Bill Bright’s … More Me & Billy G – Giants in the Land
I’m an artisan. It’s taken me about 38 years to admit it. My right brain has been trying to get my attention for years. I’ve been too busy doing important left brain stuff to notice. Or, perhaps I’ve been doing a lot of right brain stuff and giving the left brain all the credit. … More Right vs. Left Brain Pastor
This is the first of a series of personal tributes to Billy Graham as we celebrate and remember his life. I snuck away from a leadership conference in Chicago awhile back to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes — checking out the local used bookstore. My eye caught the front cover of a Billy … More Me & Billy G – A Face in the Crowd
I was recently asked a good question: What do you think about the popular practice of “mindfulness” and “meditation”? Here’s my initial response. I’m not sure what kind of “mindfulness” you’re critiquing. Eastern meditation seeks to empty our minds, to be mindful of our own “inner divinity” and mindful of the Oneness that permeates all … More Q&A: On Mindfulness & Meditation
I have been deeply influenced by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and have sweet memories of reading his ‘Cost of the Discipleship’ book for the first time in college. I have his portrait framed and hanging above my desk — he watches over me as I write this (along with other formative influences). To underscore my admiration, I lobbied hard … More Bonhoeffer & the Cost of Discipleship
In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #5 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK FOR LIFE The most popular approach to Scripture in modern-day America is to search it for practical principles for daily living. The Bible is God’s “Handbook … More THE BIBLE: Guidebook for Life
Isn’t it interesting the early church never developed into anything resembling the rabbinic model of education and organization? Paul was a Pharisee who studied under the great Rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and yet the style of his teaching and apostolic ministry never resulted in training up Christian rabbis to pass on Jesus’ interpretation of Torah to eager students. Just read Acts and the Epistles and you find nothing rabbinic in shape about early Christian education. … More Jesus, Sages & the Mishnah
My daily posts are my attempt to parade Lady Wisdom’s attractive figure across the busy intersections of Facebook with its whistling pedestrians casually scrolling about, passing the time, spying on old friends, watching silly cat videos, reading nasty meme’s and tripping over all the political trash littering the streets and ditches of the social media landscape. I only hope that occasionally someone will hear Lady Wisdom’s cry and stop to listen. … More Blogging Aloud in the Streets
A Christmas gift to myself this year was a collection of Sunday Sermons from the ancient Church Fathers. They are arranged according to the Church Calendar with about 5 or 6 sermons each Sunday for that week’s Gospel text from the likes of Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine. This first Sunday in Lent I read … More Ancient Sermon on 40 Days of Lent
In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #4 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S GRAND STORY The Bible is God’s Grand Story of his dealings within history — the grand metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. We are all characters within … More THE BIBLE: God’s Grand Story
In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #3 – THE BIBLE AS REVELATION OF GOD’S MAJESTY Christians often take the mind-blowing fact of God’s self-revelation for granted. Our faith stands or falls on the foundational belief that God has stooped to … More THE BIBLE: Revelation of God’s Majesty
I worry we’re preaching the love of Christ while ignoring the wisdom of Christ. I worry we’re raising up a generation of Christians shaped by the shallow and spineless gospel of the Beatles: “All you need is love, love, love.” Yet, take away wisdom and all you have a bunch of “foolish lovers” driven along by fluctuating emotions and trendy causes. Love must be accompanied by wisdom. Wisdom guides us to love rightly. … More What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 3
What keeps me awake at night is wondering if all of my pastoral efforts are actually producing disciples. Are we just keeping people busy with programs and gatherings, or are people being gradually (and imperfectly) formed into Christlikeness? I felt Paul’s exasperation lately over his beloved church when he wrote, “Oh, my dear children! I … More What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 2
I know the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is over, but I just happened upon an old essay I wrote on Luther’s pastoral approach to the sick and dying I found interesting. Martin Luther’s book Comfort For the Sick and Dying provides a window into his faith and theology as it is worked out in the face … More Martin Luther: Comforting the Sick
The United States has a love affair with Eros; I’d say our society as a whole is worshiping at the temple of Eros — and not just once a year. Consider the numbers… … More Love, Marriage & Singleness at the Apocalypse
Kingdom Harbor 