July 10, 2014

They say that confession is good for the soul. So here goes: I confess that I’m feeling terribly conflicted about the passage we discuss in this PODCAST. On the one hand, this is as sober and serious as it gets, Jesus’ climax to His signature sermon. Yet on the other hand, I find myself strangely comforted by His words. Comforted because they explain SO MUCH of what we see done today in Jesus’ name. You see, Jesus said this at the... Read more

July 9, 2014

Toddlers are quite the explorers, they have so much to learn and see and experience.  He is walking, running, climbing, jumping all with wonder and excitement.  Each new experience is building the child’s sense of self.  When he falls down and we lovingly kiss him better, when he giggles at a new found fun and we join in with delight; he is learning to trust not only his environment but also the love and support of his parents. This... Read more

July 9, 2014

I’ve got to be real honest.  This week’s podcast is just a bit too much for me to dictate and write down, so do me a solid:  just push play and listen. In lieu of a full blog entry, I offer this podcast preview:  It’s been a tough month: one of my dogs was killed, I had to put the other one down and in the midst of all that, my brother and I got the call no grandson... Read more

July 8, 2014

Common story: First Church gets a new minister – Pastor Joe. He’s not a very good communicator. People start leaving. Within two years attendance has dropped by half. Giving is down by a third. First Church descends into a malaise. Eventually Pastor Joe is fired and the search for his replacement begins. A year later First Church hires a new minister – Pastor Daniel. He’s a great communicator. The church immediately starts growing. Happy days are here again. People... Read more

July 8, 2014

To purchase the entire Summit Lecture Series, Vol. 1 on DVD, go to: summit.org Knowledge of your own consciousness is a form or non-sensory knowledge by acquaintance.  It is an example of where you can have knowledge by acquaintance with things you can’t see, touch, taste, smell, or hear.  And that’s very important. Now, when I claim that Christianity provides us with knowledge, one of the things I mean by that is that it gives us knowledge by acquaintance, in that... Read more

July 8, 2014

When I think of “God’s Will”, I think of something really ominous – like dark clouds, a thundering voice, and a deep command to go to Antarctica and evangelize to the penguins. I think it’s easy to be afraid of God’s will. Still, I think we can get caught up in waiting for God’s “perfect will” to reveal itself.  We long for writing on the wall, an airplane to sketch us a note in the sky, or a text... Read more

July 7, 2014

From the Associated Press:  A Lincoln Nebraska toddler was stuck inside a claw machine.  Authorities say that a local boy was reunited with his mother after employees found him playing inside a claw machine at a bowling alley.  Lincoln Police say that a 24-year-old woman called 911 because her three-year-old son was missing from their apartment.  Employees at the bowling alley across the street meanwhile, called the police to say that a small boy was playing with stuffed animals... Read more

July 7, 2014

One of the first things you’ll notice when you turn to the second chapter of 1 Samuel is that the first half of the chapter is laid out like a poem and the second looks like a prose or narrative.  This is intentional because the first half is, in fact, a poem; and the second half of the chapter continues the story of Samuel. The first ten verses of 1 Samuel 2 is a song of praise by Hannah,... Read more

July 3, 2014

The Apostle Paul died a very troubled man. As did Peter. As did John. As did Jude. Know why? They shared the same concern. The identically same concern that Jesus addressed rather pointedly here in this PODCAST. Matthew 7:15-20 15 Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you. 16 You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes. 17 A good tree produces... Read more

July 3, 2014

What can we do as leaders to follow in the gentle footsteps of Jesus? What do you want to look for when it comes to our church organizations? 1.  False reverence replaces Jesus. As if we think that we can be Christians but not in love with God. Question:  Is loving Jesus the thing that is given the most pulpit time?  Are most of the people in love with Jesus or worried who is smoking or swearing or going... Read more


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