Last post I mentioned we just began studying our way through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians on Sundays with our high school students. A perceptive and refreshingly honest student asked the following question: “Umm…can you tell me again why we’re taking the time to read this ancient letter written to these people we’ll never … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 2
Keri and I were visiting Bethel University’s campus recently, and were intrigued by signs posted on certain doors signaling “safe-places” for conversations about same-sex attraction. Is this a growing phenomenon on all university campuses, or unique to Christian institutions where there is more of a stigma against same-sex relationships? I was therefore very interested when … More GLBT Safe Place Signs on Campus
This past summer my wife and I decided it was high time to visit Hogwarts and dabble in the dark arts. That is, we decided to watch the Harry Potter movies. I’m glad to report 6 months later I’ve finally recovered my faith. Ok, enough with the sarcasm. Alright Christian: Have you seen the films? … More Are We Done Picking on Potter?
Have you read “Organic Church” by Neil Cole? I’m about to. I’ve read all the buzz about this revolutionary movement of dissatisfied Jesus-f0llowers who dream of paving new inroads into a culture that has grown disinterested in the church-as-usual. I am one of them. I’ve been part of sparking this kind of missional Christianity in … More “Organic Church” by Neil Cole
Please check out this great video rendition of a classic excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory! CLICK HERE The video uses the following script from Lewis’ powerful sermon: “If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is … More VIDEO: “Easily Pleased” from Desiring God
Two of my Daily Illumination movie reviews were published this past week — one at Youthworker.com and another at Jesus Creed. More of my reviews will be featured at Jesus Creed the next few Friday nights. I appreciate sharing my writings, but am humored that it’s my movie reviews that are getting the press. I’m … More Publication Notice
I began a new Sunday Bible study with our high school group this morning going through Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. For me this seemed like a perfectly normal thing to do as a long-time Christian, church attender and pastor — that is, spend 6 weeks pouring over a portion of Scripture. But every … More On Reading Ancient Letters of Strangers 1
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity but nobody thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy
Michael Patton has a thoughtful read on the unique demands of ministry and the need to sometimes call in to work “spiritually sick.” I invite you to check it out below. What do you think? Calling in “Spiritually Sick” to Work Today by Michael Patton at Parchment & Pen.
One of my good friends in youth ministry, Paul Baudhuin at St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church, has an outstanding vision and purpose set out for his youth group. I can’t help but share it. While many students often only see what’s on the surface level of the “youth group experience” — the fun and … More More Than ‘Youth Group’
Mark Galli, senior editor for Christianity Today, recently wrote an excellent piece called “Long Live Organic Church: But What Happens If We Don’t Transform the World?” This is a must-read article for all who dream of a more effective church for the next generation. Are you dissatisfied with church as usual? Are you tired of … More A Must-Read Article for Church Leaders
“…Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like … More PARABLES: Sower, Seed & Soil 3
RJS at Jesus Creed brought these two videos to my attention. Wright discusses our need to approach the Scriptures on their own terms and how our particular worldview and philosophical presuppositions color our understanding of the text. The first video highlights the Enlightenment’s influence on our views of God, and the second video discusses how … More N.T. Wright on How Worldview Shapes our Reading of Scripture
In Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy, Greg Boyd attempts to answer the question: “How are we to conceive of an all-powerful God creating beings who to some degree possess the power to thwart his will, and thus against whom he must genuinely battle if he is to accomplish his … More BOOK REVIEW: Satan and the Problem of Evil by Greg Boyd
My good friends Dan Kent and Neil Berget, the theological mastermind and technological guru behind the creation of the Web of Theology, have graciously invited me in on the advancement and, most importantly, the marketing of this great tool. I am hoping to use my network of pastors, professors and blogging associates to spread the … More “A Match Made in Heaven” & WOT at Jesus Creed
Discovered this at Ben Witherington’s blog.
Read my article “Guard Your Treasure: Teens, Sex and Cellphones” recently published at http://www.YouthWorker.com. Just click image below to read.
Every few months youth pastors get a promotional box in the mail luring them to jump on the bandwagon of the next big Christian movie, book, conference or concert. Marketing madness bombards you with free promotinal posters, t-shirts, devotionals, bookmarks, bumper stickers. Sadly, the Christian entertainment sub-culture often disappoints. I usually don’t bite. I’m the … More MOVIE REVIEW: To Save A Life (2010)
<Envelope Please> “And the winner for the grayest, grimmest, most violent post-apocalyptic thriller of 2010 involving the Bible goes to…..The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington.” <Applause> This movie is not for the light-hearted or weak-stomached. This movie paints a very dark picture of humanity in all it’s unfettered barbarism: rape, dismemberment, pillaging and survival of … More MOVIE REVIEW: The Book of Eli (2010)
Well, God and coffee are not very comparable. But what do you think of this video?
I cannot endorse The Web of Theology (WOT) more enthusiastically. This one-of-a-kind theological self-assessment tool is a must for every thoughtful Christian and over time should become widely used by churches and Christian colleges and seminaries. WOT architect Dan Kent has provided us with the theological equivalent of the StrengthFinders, Myers-Briggs and DISC assessments. It’s … More The Web of Theology: Self-Assessment Tool
Tullian Tchividjianan, grandson of Billy Graham and author of “Unfashionable” has excellent article posted today at Leadership Journal called, “The Everyday Gospel.” Here’s a quote worth chewing on today: I once assumed the gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in order to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But I’ve come to … More Deep into the Gospel (Tchividjianan)
