When I got to O’Hare Monday morning for my flight to New Orleans — knowing there was snow and some bad weather — I tried to change my flight to an earlier time but the earlier plane was already completely full. Then they informed me that my flight — through Dallas/Ft Worth — was late and that I would have only a 10 minute window to change plans after we got to Dallas. So, I asked if I could get... Read more
From Webster, who got cut and Shear Paradise “scarfed” him with a Valentine’s scarf: Read more
The psalmist’s integrity comes from God because his disposition before God is that of a “servant” (ebed; see vv. 122, 124, 125): 124 Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. |inline Read more
Don’t ask me, ask Bob Whitesel. Why? His new book, Inside the Organic Church, is a journey into the emerging church movement, which he calls the “organic” church, and the singular highlight — part from a pleasing and fair style of writing — is that he lists what all churches can learn from 12 organic churches. This brief, accessible book might be the bridge-book we need to help all churches learn from the emerging movement. You’ll need to read the... Read more
For Lent this year, I want to do a series that weaves together the “story” of Peter with the “story” of Mary. The two of them, so I hope to show, struggle with the Cross and it is that “story” that can get us all ready for Lent. I will, of course, base this series on The Real Mary and, less so, on Jesus Creed‘s chapter about Peter. |inline Read more
Psalm 119:123 is a little tricky: “My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.” Is the psalmist despairing and at the end of his hope or is he yearning intensively? The Hebrew word here (qalah) can mean either “completed” and could connote “totally focused on” or, which is how most translations proceed, “exhausted, come to the end.” I think the latter sense is probably right. |inline Read more
We had a friend who used to be a major sales rep for Encyclopedia Brittanica. Alas, the invasion of the internet “shelved” the old Brittanica ways and his job — to survive Brittanica went online. Alan Hirsch, in The Forgotten Ways, contends that the church either adapts by turning loose the Spirit of God in each age or it will go the way of the institutionalized Brittanica clothbound encyclopedias. |inline Read more
At times I open letters I get from readers. Some time back I got a note from Lori with this statement in it: “Anyway, Jesus somehow put my dad, my husband, you and Oprah in a mix to help me see Jesus blast away my nearly-life-long and crippling struggle with self-worth. |inline Read more
Here’s a really good opportunity: we are participating in an emerging event in Seattle along with Todd Hunter, and the website is asking those who attend to suggest topics for discussion. It will be hosted by Jim Henderson and Rose Madrid-Swetman, and it will feature the Kelly Carpenter Band. The event is called “Inside the Missional Matrix.” It is an Off the Map event at will be held at Vineyard Community Church. Read more
In the next paragraph of Psalm 119 (vv. 121-128, each beginning with the Hebrew letter Ayin), the psalmist considers his own integrity before God from a variety of angles. He appeals to God on the basis of his own integrity, he yearns for God on that same basis, he opens himself up to God, he requests God to act, and he identifies himself on the basis of his integrity. It strikes many today as inappropriate — especially if we are... Read more
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