How are Jesus and Lao Tzu like Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups? They are the two great faiths that faith great together! Do you remember the old TV commercials where two cowboys sit by the fire? As they accidentally bump into each other snacks collide. Each one looks to the other with furrowed brows. “You got your chocolate in my peanut butter,” the first one drawls. The second, just as offended, says, “You got your peanut butter on my chocolate!” The... Read more
What would Christianity look like on a different planet? How can we determine which truths are earthbound, and which are universal? Imagine you’re a Christian missionary on a planet closer to its sun, where a thin atmosphere does not block harmful solar radiation. People have adapted to the harsh environment by burrowing into the planet’s crust, where it is cool and dark. Like bats, they have developed keen ears and dull eyesight. Inhabitants take trips to the surface at night when... Read more
Religious killjoys, terrified of anything non-Christian, warn of Easter’s Pagan origins. Yet, we can reconcile and honor both traditions. Most Jesus followers know someone afraid of anything impure that might creep in from outside Christendom. These are the hyper-religious types who insist you can get a demon from playing Dungeons & Dragons. They’re certain that their kids will become witches if they read a Harry Potter book. And they love to debunk fun Christian holidays by telling you about their... Read more
What did Jesus mean by “living water?” A 2,500-year-old Chinese text may give a clue. Let’s compare the words of Jesus and Lao Tzu. In honor of World Water Day, March 22 this year, I want to look at the spiritual meaning of water from two great traditions—Christianity and Taoism. The following is adapted from a book I am writing. The book’s working title is The Tao of Love: The Way of Jesus. In this article, I will discuss the mystical... Read more
Every day I work with people who experience physical and emotional pain. While I can’t prescribe their medication, I do prescribe meditation. Bertha’s story: A few years ago, I paid a pastoral visit to Bertha (not her real name) in the hospital. She impressed me by the way she bore up under the pain of her medical treatments. Bertha told me, “I heard the Lord say in my mind, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So, I began... Read more
Are God and Satan equal and opposite? Does God get credit for good, while we blame the devil for evil? Is God the source of good and evil? Recently, a friend asked me the following question: “I’m still kinda on my spiritual journey in trying to be a better Christian but I still got questions in my head that hold me back sometimes. I was wondering if you could help me out with if you had time…I’ve seen and read... Read more
What happens when you pull the emergency brake on the freeway? A client decided to try it at 60mph. It was his way of crying for help. Sometimes a person’s bad behavior can speak louder than their words. Recently, I met a client upon his release from jail. I didn’t have all the details about his weekend incarceration. So, I asked questions to learn why he’d been arrested. As I drove him to an appointment, we turned onto the freeway,... Read more
Pastors with children of their own may be sacrificing them to a false god, without even knowing it. Read on to see what I mean… One Good Molech Sermon Every pastor has at least one good Molech sermon, vividly describing Canaanite child sacrifice by laying the infant on the red-hot arms of the fiery metal idol. It’s good for that cringe effect from your congregation that rivets them to their pews and lets you know they’re listening. It might get... Read more
“Sheriff, I’m calling you out!” shouts the black-hatted cowboy, striding through the saloon door. Sounds like social media these days. We’ve all seen the Westerns, our hero marching out to meet the villain at high noon, spurs jangling. Tumbleweeds roll in the background. Harmonica whines as the man in the white hat pulls back his duster, revealing twin pearl-handled iPhones. Fingers twitch inches from his holster. He draws and posts a merciless message. Blowing the smoke away from his screen,... Read more
Is religion like the Pit of Despair, sucking life from you? The good news is you’re only mostly dead. And mostly dead is slightly alive. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies. In the film, the rogue Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) asks Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) for a resurrection-cure for his slain friend, Westley (Cary Elwes), Aka Dread Pirate Roberts. Miracle Max : He probably owes you money huh? I’ll ask him. Inigo Montoya : He’s dead. He can’t talk.... Read more
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