Started reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer today. I didn’t get through the introduction before I came across a great quote: When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts…
Category: Christianity
Conversational Scripture Reading
Have you ever tried praying Scripture back to God? I’m talking about actually speaking the text back to Him using conversational pronouns (I may have just made that term up, but you get the point), for example, changing “He” and “the Lord” to “You”. It makes for an amazing prayer and worship time. Give it a…
Martyrdom Lives
Just read an excerpt from a Relevant Magazine article in On Mission: More than 2,000 Christians died for their faith last year, according to Open Doors. The conflict in Syria accounted for the largest group of Christian deaths, some 1,200 casualties. The total number of confirmed martyr deaths reported 2,123 for 2013, includes no numbers…
Portrait of a Savior, Part 10 (video)
Portrait of a Savior, Part 10 from The Gathering on Vimeo. (Still struggling with video quality issues…sorry) In John, chapter 5, Jesus demonstrates His infinite mercy by picking out one unworthy man from a multitude of needy people and showing him grace. Though we are all unworthy of receiving anything from God, in His mercy…
I Am a Hypocrite
Listen to an audio version of this post. Yeah, it’s true…I am a hypocrite. There. Said it. You want to try it? Really, you should give it a shot. Ok, say this with me, “I am a hyp…”. Wait, not yet. Let’s make sure you should say it. I suppose it’s possible (though not…
When Doctrine Comes Alive
Last night, we had one of our Institute classes at The Gathering. If you’re not familiar, Institute is currently an in-depth systematic theology class we take some of our members through. It can be rather intense and challenging to complete. I have to say, though, I am so proud of those who have taken on…
When Despair Creeps In
If I am being completely honest and transparent with you, I’m struggling. I’m wrestling with the mental affects of chronic pain. Now, chronic pain can be labeled in different ways and is usually reserved for pain that has no real end in sight. Hopefully, that is not the definition for me. I have been dealing…
Sunday Morning Rewind: Taming the Wild Beast in Your Mouth.
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” James 1:26 Bridle your tongue. Have you ever tried to bridle (or we could say, bite your tongue) when someone really pushes your buttons? When they say that one thing that really puts you…
Holy Rebellion: Making the Determination to Stand
I refuse to be defeated. That statement sounds a bit absurd, if you think about it. I mean, if I’m standing in a boxing ring in front of a 230lb well-tuned fighting machine, I’m not sure that my attitude matters very much. I don’t think he cares what I refuse to do. He’s going to…
Video: Relentless, Part 8: Integrity, On the Verge of Extinction
Who do you trust? I mean really trust? If you’re like most people (me, included), you can probably count on one hand the number of people you know, beyond a doubt, that their word is their bond; that if they commit to something, you can take it to the bank. Can you name them? Would…
The Pope’s Bold Move Away From Christianity
According to a recent report by the Huffington Post, Pope Francis has declared that faith in Christ is not necessary for redemption, a clear and completed move away from biblical Christianity and, apparently, to some form of Christian Universalism (contradictory terms, by the way). This is part of what he said: “The Lord created us…
Looking for God in the Whirlwind
I have been following the reports about the Oklahoma tornado since it happened yesterday. The more I watch, the sadder I get. As I’ve seen the images, my mind has involuntarily weaved together scenarios of the lives that have been decimated. I’ve pictured the lives of those little children who woke up yesterday morning, got…
Video: The Calling of Parenthood
Sunday, I dealt with very touchy issues related to parenting at The Gathering. These included the challenges of parenting and the pain that comes from the inability to have children, along with the dangers of engaging in extraordinary means of impregnation, such as IVF. My goal was to deal with these issues from a biblical,…
Children and Salvation: Is It Ever Too Early?
My six-year old was saved Monday. Well, at least that’s what he told me when he came home from school. As it turns out, a children’s ministry from a local church holds a voluntary Bible club with the kids after school every so often and so, during that time, the salvation bracelet was given to…
Come and See
As someone who has studied apologetics extensively, I know and have used all of the logical arguments for the existence of God, the deity of Christ and the reality of miracles. I have talked with people about the rationality for believing in the reliability of Scripture and the resurrection of Jesus. As a natural skeptic,…
Navigating Your Way Through a Wilderness of Purpose
Have you ever been stuck in a bad job? I think that might be one of the worst things we have to deal with in life because sometimes we really do feel stuck, like a caged lion or a wolf caught in a trap. You might be in one right now. If you are, I’m…
Video for Relentless, Part 3: Knowledge
Here is the video for my message from this past Sunday at The Gathering. Come this Sunday for Part 4. If you can’t make it, watch us live streamed through our website. Relentless, Part 3 from The Gathering on Vimeo.
Culture Warrior
I hate that term. I hate the concept, too. “Culture Wars.” Who came up with that anyway? I mean, I understand the thinking: “Our Country is going to hell and it’s our responsibility as Christians to stand up and prevent it!” I think that’s what bothers me the most. Is that really our calling? Is…
Shai Linne’s Fal$e Teachers
My twelve year-old son, Jacob, has taken to hip-hop music. Now, if you’re like me, the revelation that your son likes hip-hop can be a bit concerning. I certainly don’t need to mention the fact that most hip-hop music is angry, often violent young men spewing their anger and violence out lyrically. Much of it…
How Deep Indeed!
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a…