I’ve been around the block. When it comes to studying the Bible, I’ve made my way through this method and that format, using these tools and those materials. I’ve studied with the help of this translation and that paraphrase. I’ve considered his detailed commentary and her in-depth workbook… After all, if you’re like me and […]
How far are you willing to go with God? Where do you draw the line when it comes to doing things His way? At what point do you dig your heels in and refuse to take one more step down the path of His choosing? Before you answer, I think you’ll want to hear this […]
Isaiah had a vision. His vision was of God, in heaven, seated on His throne in unimaginable glory (not to mention the angel-seraphs, whose voices raised in worship to this majestic God literally shook the foundations of the temple where Isaiah stood). In the Bible, where this vision is recorded, we’re told that Isaiah’s first […]
Some people walk into a room and suddenly… it’s full. Full of talk. Full of words. Full of opinions and agendas, served up without invitation for the rest of us to join in. Full of energy – positive or negative – that proceeds to drive every conversation and interaction in its direction. Full […]
I know, I know… you’ve heard all of the quotes before: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr “If you don’t create change, change will create you.” “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” “Change […]
My home church has a beautiful tradition of encouraging faith development in our youngsters. At baptism, each child is presented with a meticulously hand-made wooden chest. We call them Faith Chests, and when we give them to our children we explain that they are intended to house the items of faith that they will acquire […]
Pastor/author/speaker Rob Bell has a new book hitting the shelves today, and the religious community is astir. Words like radical, universalist, false prophet and heretic are erupting from the mouths and the laptops of many whose closely-held interpretations of Scripture are being challenged in Bell’s controversial book, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and […]
Every Tuesday morning, armed with my Bible and a bag of powerful, freshly ground coffee, I make my way to the church. Only, I don’t really think of it as going to ‘church’ – it’s more like going home. I never dread Tuesday mornings. On the contrary, Tuesday is my favorite day of the week! […]
There goes another Tuesday morning Bible study… 13 women armed with coffee cups (correction: 12 coffee cups, one tea cup) and Bibles were once again hijacked by the Holy Spirit. This phenomenon, happening with increasing frequency, takes the entire circle of women in my living room on one WILD ride through a full range of […]