5 year-old Andrew’s first day of kindergarten. Climbs into the car and says, “Daddy, there’s a kindergartener in your car!” (Taken with Instagram)
Category: Uncategorized
Plan B
I like a backup plan. Sometimes I feel I need a backup plan. OK, I always feel like I need a backup plan. Maybe you do, too. After all, who’s gonna jump from an airplane without at least two rip cords, right? The question I want to ponder a little bit is this: Is…
Just FYI, this country (meaning the US, which I assume is where you live) is not a theocracy, which means that the laws of this country (including the laws regarding abortion) should not be based on any one religion (or holy book) in particular. So just because your religion teaches you to think that abortion is morally wrong doesn’t mean a thing in terms of whether or not abortion should be illegal. So do you have any non-religious reasons as to why abortion should be illegalized?
Well, sure. 1. Abortion kills innocent life. 2. Killing innocent life is, by definition, murder. 3. Murder is illegal. 4. Therefore, abortion should be illegal. That’s not religious.
A World of Contradictions: Redux
For several years, I wrote and maintained a worldviews blog called Espresso Roast (toward the end, I invited a few friends to contribute, as well). Though I have long-since stopped writing on that blog, I do keep it online because there were a lot of things I commented on that I feel are still relevant to…
The Pursuit of Wisdom
In case you’ve missed it, we are currently in the midst of a series on the book of Proverbs at The Gathering. It’s been amazing to see how God has used this in our lives already and we’re just in chapter 3! Who would have thought what appears to be a bunch of random sayings…
My boys getting ready to go on a run with me. (Taken with instagram)
If you missed it, this is a video I put together for our Holy Saturday service called The Aftermath. (Source: http://player.vimeo.com/)
A whirlwind video tour of all that was going on at The Gathering workday on March 24, 2012. (Source: http://player.vimeo.com/)
Happy 5th Birthday, Andrew!
I’m writing these little letters way too frequently, but what an incredible joy to see my boys grow! Andrew, I cannot tell you how much I love you. You are…all boy! That’s a good thing, though, because even though so much goes along with it that is less than pleasant, I’ll take it all because…
Chuck Colson on the Manhattan Declaration and the call for potential civil disobedience. (Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
At The Gathering, we are in the middle of a series on Covenant. One of the basic covenantal institutions in life is marriage. If you are married or think you ever will be and hope you’ll never be divorced, this is a very important short, 5 minute video for you to watch. Timothy Keller, John…
A study in temptation and delayed gratification. Of course, since delayed gratification doesn’t really exist in our society, a definition of the term might be in order. So, what would YOU do? (Source: http://player.vimeo.com/)
A Reasonable Response
In the opening of Isaiah, God says something that, to me, is astounding. He calls the readers to do something that sounds, well, unreasonable. He says, “Come now, let us reason together.” Crazy, right? No, think about it: The sovereign Lord of all that is, who created by the power of His Word, who controls…
Every. Decision. Matters. I posted that phrase earlier on my Facebook page and started thinking about it more. Do you realize the truth of this? I’m not sure any of us do. I think we feel like many of our choices are essentially in a vacuum. I don’t know that that’s ever true. Usually, even…
Yesterday, for Orphan Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing J.T. Olson speak at The Gathering about Both Hands Ministry. Take 16 minutes and educate yourself on this amazing ministry. (Source: http://player.vimeo.com/)
Making it up as we go
Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney denied that Obama had perhaps gone too far by dragging the Almighty into a fierce political spat. “I believe that the phrase from the Bible is ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves,’” Carney said. “I think the point the president is making is that, you know, we have it within our capacity…
A Little Halloween Surprise
Just discovered a little tidbit about one of the scariest “Halloween” movies of all time, The Exorcist. Turns out it was never intended to be a horror story (Wha?! No, really.) but a story to encourage faith in God. Seriously. Here’s what the author, William Peter Blatty, said in his own words: [T]he humiliating God’s-honest…
Phantom Notes
If you’ve posted a note on one of my posts and I’ve not responded, I’m sorry but, like many other users, I can only see that I HAVE notes but can’t actually see them. If someone knows how to fix this, I’d appreciate you letting me know how. Just don’t put it in a note.
Idols of the Heart
Rarely do I teach a class or deliver a message that hasn’t already penetrated my soul and taught me first. I think that the only way a message is really exceptional is if the Holy Spirit has brought the hammer down first in the teacher/preacher’s life so that the passion can come from a place…
The Cohabitational Effect
Yesterday, I taught on Letting Marriage Be Held in Honor from Hebrews 13:4. If you want to hear that message, visit our audio page here. One area I didn’t cover I want to talk a little about here because it deals with one of the most prevalent practices in modern Western culture: Cohabitating. OK, just…
Here’s a great example of why it’s important to know what you believe and why. (Source: http://i.cdn.turner.com/)