FATHER’S SONG (5): A Masterpiece in Written Form (Moses & Torah)

April 3, 2012

One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history.  In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. The crowds came with great anticipation to the mountain amphitheater.  Many great and awesome rumors preceded the night’s long awaited spectacle. … More FATHER’S SONG (5): A Masterpiece in Written Form (Moses & Torah)

FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)

March 31, 2012

One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history.  In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January … More FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)

FATHER’S SONG (2): Creation Song (Creation)

March 27, 2012

The Creator could have chosen an infinite number of methods to bring the universe into being. God chose to sing. Well, we don’t know if God actually sang, but the creation narratives make plain that the first stars, moons, trees, oceans, platypuses and people danced into existence through the spoken word of God. (“And the … More FATHER’S SONG (2): Creation Song (Creation)

Spring Break on Facebook (or “Are Men Scum?”)

March 25, 2012

A message is currently circulating on Facebook that claims that “men are scum.” Here’s a bit of it:

“Despite all the romantic notions that men or women may have about how men really are, the fact remains that nature has pretty much made them all one way: hormone-crazed animals bent on blessing as much of the planet as possible with their genetic code. Like any other male animal on this planet, the foremost thought on the untrained human male’s mind is sex… I estimate that 99.87% of adult males walk around in a hormone induced zombie trance of lust. For every thousand men, 13 of them are rationally thinking gentlemen.”

Well, boys? What do you think of this claim? Is this true? Is it partly true but overblown a bit? If so, which part is true? Which part is overblown? What beliefs about human nature, nature, human development, morality and God leads this person to this portrayal of human males? Please read on…. … More Spring Break on Facebook (or “Are Men Scum?”)

FATHER’S SONG 1: The Dance of the Trinity

March 25, 2012

SERIES INTRO: One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history.  In this series, Jeremy guides us through the main episodes of the biblical narrative with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync.  Leave the dissonance of the world and join the Dance of the Trinity as we catch a glimpse … More FATHER’S SONG 1: The Dance of the Trinity

Masks & Belonging: Deeper than Nude Beaches & Palm Branches

March 23, 2012

This is a repost from a few years back. -JB Chap Clark has written a must-read book for all youth workers and those who want to understand the current world of today’s teenagers.  Listen to these honest words of a (typical) high school student in Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers: “I’ve always been … More Masks & Belonging: Deeper than Nude Beaches & Palm Branches

GARBAGE DAY 10 – Scissors That Won’t Cut (Hell 2)

March 18, 2012

What then does Jesus’ graphic allusion to Jerusalem’s garbage dump tell us about the nature of hell? First, as we have already discovered, each person has been created for the common purpose of bringing glory and praise to the Creator.  We were made to be showcases of God’s majesty.  We fulfill this role whenever we … More GARBAGE DAY 10 – Scissors That Won’t Cut (Hell 2)

GARBAGE DAY 9 – God’s Cosmic Landfill (One Hell of a Mess)

March 17, 2012

Earlier I mentioned the unpopularity of the topic of repentance both inside and outside the church today. An even more hair-raising, gut-wrenching topic, offering a greater challenge to our culture’s sensibilities is the idea that an all-loving, all-merciful God would send people to some hell for all eternity. Shall we pour a cup of coffee and talk about Hell for a moment?

… More GARBAGE DAY 9 – God’s Cosmic Landfill (One Hell of a Mess)

Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith

March 14, 2012

I’ve been studying the history and founding fathers of the Covenant the past several months. Perhaps the greatest influential figure of the 19th century revivals that swept through Sweden was C.O. Rosenius (1816-1868). He became one of Sweden’s most widely read religious writers of his time as the editor of Pietisten used heavily by the Mission Friends … More Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith

GARBAGE DAY 8 – Rummage Sale for the Soul

March 13, 2012

Are we willing to let go of certain things we love in order to gain something of even greater value? This is the whole concept behind a rummage sale, is it not? Clear out the old, unused clutter to make room for newer, better things? The Apostle Paul was faced with the same question, and made his decision abundantly clear…

… More GARBAGE DAY 8 – Rummage Sale for the Soul

GARBAGE DAY 7 – Boasting in our Busyness

March 12, 2012

If we take a quick glance at the lifestyles of Christians in America today, they are hardly distinguishable from those who don’t know God. We are a church of Marthas, fussing about in our own respective kitchens. But Jesus invites us to clear away the clutter and find time and space to sit at his feet along with Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Herein lies the key difference between spiritual garbage and spiritual clutter…. … More GARBAGE DAY 7 – Boasting in our Busyness

GARBAGE DAY 6 – Spiritual Clutter

March 10, 2012

While continuously ridding our lives of sin’s toxic presence is of central importance, there is another type of spiritual waste that needs to be kept at bay. I call it spiritual clutter. If spiritual garbage represents the sin polluting our lives, spiritual clutter represents the numerous distractions that constantly compete for our immediate attention, drawing our focus away from God’s kingdom purposes…. … More GARBAGE DAY 6 – Spiritual Clutter