On a prayer walk last night around midnight I was walking down the boardwalk connecting the public docks near the center of the town. The breeze was light, and there was lightning flashing on the western horizon — a beautiful display of light-works for a soul awaiting my own enlightenment. I found a large boulder … More Empty Docks and Wayward Vessels
The past week I’ve been mourning the loss of a good friend — though we never met in person. If you never knew the Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, it is never too late to get to know him. He has left us a treasure trove of writings and podcasts that will continue to reach many … More Remembering Michael Spencer (1956-2010)
Martin Luff pointed me to the Tall Skinny Kiwi’s good thoughts in response to this video where John Piper comments on the ‘Emerging Church.’ Check out the video and then read this response. What are your thoughts?
Michael Patton of Reclaiming the Mind runs the Credo House of Theology, a theology hub and coffee house in Oklahoma. I have to say that this would be a dream job for me someday. Anyone up for for some coffee, community and some conversation about the things that matter most in life? Keri makes some … More Living the Dream
My phone rang today. I picked it up to hear those exciting words: “Congratulations! You have won a free cruise!” Yeah, right. What’s the catch? This must be a scam. I’ve never won any drawings I’ve entered. Even though the voice on the other end was friendly and sounded sincere, I was a mean sounding, … More Too Good To Be True
He’s everywhere. His books are bestsellers. He’s stirring up trouble and leading many astray. Who is Bart Ehrman? Dan Wallace shares a little perspective on who he is and his sneaky publishing tactics. Bart Ehrman has become the new media darling of the 21stcentury. He’s been on seemingly every major media outlet, from Jon Stewart’s … More What’s up with Bart Ehrman?
My blogging friend and brother in Christ, Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, has gone home to be with the Lord tonight. I’ll bet he was hanging on to celebrate one more Easter Sunday on earth before he went to thank Jesus in person for his costly sacrifice. I will miss Michael’s writings and voice greatly. … More Michael Spencer, 1956-2010
Every Easter my wife gets a call from her dad singing this song from the top of his lungs! But he’s no match for this puppet choir! HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!
Joel Hanson, formerly of PFR, leads worship at Church of the Open Door (my second church home). He recorded this song some years back with the angelic Sara Groves. It has always had a way of moving me to tears of joy — and I don’t get misty too easily. The meaning is even more … More Travelin’ Light Because of Christ
In a religiously pluralistic world where all religions are supposedly equal and tolerance is the highest value, many Christians are dancing creatively around some of the less tolerant teachings of Jesus. What do we do with sayings like, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through … More Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Christ
My recent post on Vocation and calling featured at Jesus Creed evoked some great comments that were helpful in taking my thoughts forward. Michael Kruse’s comments in particular are worth sharing repeating here. I found his reference to a trinitarian framework for calling very fascinating: I don’t know if you have ever read any of … More The Trinitarian Calling
These are the words that came to me on a prayer walk last night around midnight.
I’m pretty sure I cannot post this little tribute to my angel too many times! Here it is again: “Angels In The Skies” by yours truly. A free cookie to anyone who can name all the instruments I played in this hack-job recording.
I have a love-hate relationship with personal assessments. I love self-discovery and hold the ancient motto of Socrates in high regard: “Know thyself” and “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I’ve done the Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Spiritual Gifts inventory, EQ assessments, and currently doing some church planter assessments. Here’s my main frustration and source of … More Limitations of Personal Assessments
Regular readers of DI may have noticed a drop off in more personal, new content. As an internal processor and someone who likes to share my inward journey with God with others, the past 2 1/2 months have been hard for me. I have not been able to share openly about some personal circumstances that … More My Lenten Journey Through The Darkness
A good reminder for all Christian leaders by Pete Johnson from YouthWorker.com. His article begins, This issue of YouthWorker Journal contains some great articles about resources, methods and techniques, which can improve our effectiveness in working with teens; but I want to remind all of my fellow youth workers that all this stuff doesn’t mean a … More Our Lives are the Best Curriculum
The Josiah Smith Band have been a special part of my season of ministry at Fusion. They have been part of nearly all of our Fusion retreats and have left an impact on our group with their music and their sincere love of our students. One neat moment was when Josiah came to our morning … More Josiah Smith Band – “With Open Hands”
I’m sharing some noteworthy excerpts from one of my favorite, most influential books — “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” by Stanley Hauerwas & William Willimon. Chapter four addresses Christian social ethics as faithfulness to the community’s normative story — in this case the Jesus-shaped story. “The habit of Constantinian thinking is difficult to … More Resident Aliens 4
This is a growing collection of resources to help familiarize Christians with the current debate on what the Bible teaches about homosexuality and how we can better love and minister to the GLBTQ community. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH? Here’s a good place to start if you’re wondering what the Bible teaches and how both sides make their … More Jesus, the Bible, & Homosexuality – Resources
“Nothing is impossible for the man who will not listen to reason.” -John Belushi (in the film “Animal House”)
As a sophomore in college two friends bought me a new study Bible as a gift. I took that Bible to the dining center and began reading the Acts of the Apostles for the first time. Something happened that night as I read this seemingly harmless story of the birth and expansion of the early … More ESSAY: The Collision of Stories: An Exploration in Narrative Theology (2002)
I’m sharing some noteworthy excerpts from one of my favorite, most influential little books on church engaging culture — “Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony” by Stanley Hauerwas & Will Willimon. Chapter 3 is my favorite chapter of all, recasting the entire Christian life and experience of salvation as the invitation into a new, … More Resident Aliens 3
