In the span of a few short days, I had two experiences which, together, served to expose a serious crack in the edifice of American culture. First, I attended a conference in New York where I listened to Os Guinness speak briefly about the serious shortage of civility in the public square. This was part of a larger conference on science of faith, but the polarization of American culture extends far beyond conversations between young earth creationists, intelligent design advocates,... Read more
Eldon Epp is the author of a little book entitled Junia: The First Woman Apostle. It’s a book about a single verse in the bible, Romans 16:7 which reads wildly differently, depending on your translation, because it’s fraught (unnecessarily) with controversy. Since this is a blog post and not a book, I’ll summarize Epps conclusions, also offered in Scott McKnights marvelous e-book, Junia is not Alone (about the censure of females voices in Christendom). First the verse, translated without equivocation... Read more
I had a great aunt who enjoyed life more than most people. She was a cook at large conference center on the coast of California, tucked away in the giant redwood trees. She lived with her sister, my grandma, and every summer we’d go there for a week’s vacation. The smell of redwood, cinnamon roles, and bacon, became synonymous for bliss, as this was a place of rest, safety, beauty. She and her sister loved life, loved us, and loved... Read more
In a book filled with stunning events, one that surely must rank near the top of the list is found, almost in passing, in John 13, where Jesus, just hours prior to his arrest and execution, washes his disciples feet. That the maker of the universe would stoop so low is, itself, a shocker. People of rank aren’t prone to embrace the towel and basin, not even in the best of times. But on this night we’re given clues into... Read more
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jesus the Christ Jeremiah Small was a student who attended the Torchbearer Bible Schools, the family of schools where I am privileged to teach on a regular basis. Jeremiah was teaching in Iraq until last week, when he was killed by one of his students, before turning the gun on himself. An e-mail I received from one of... Read more
I normally teach in Germany at the end of November, when the harvest has just come in and the farmers are taking a break. This year, though, I’m privileged to be in this agrarian region of southern Germany (wine, apples, honey, plus much more) at the end of winter and the farms are anything but sleepy. The vines are being trimmed. The soil is being tilled, as I encounter numerous tractors on my morning run. Folks are in their yard... Read more
As we enter the Lenten season, I’m happy to offer some practical advice on the various disciplines which will enable us to grow in our intimacy with Jesus, as we follow in his footsteps, learning to subject our will to the will of Another, for our own good and the good of the world. I’ll start with solitude. Years ago I had a conversation with someone about trust. It was quickly apparent that we’d both fallen off the trust wagon,... Read more
As I prepare for Lent, I’m struck this morning by Jesus’ admonition in Luke 8:56. Having entered a house of mourners, and raised a little girl from the dead, he orders everyone not to tell anyone what happened. This is one of those little bits of the Bible that is either overlooked or explained away. When I read it though, I wonder if Jesus is trying to warn me, and others who do things in his name, of the dangers... Read more
“full of grace and truth” John 1:14 “Who can pull that off?” is the question I ask with all the urgency I can muster because I’m more convinced than ever that this is perhaps the only possible solid foundation upon which genuine intimacy can be built. Look at any relationship where love continues to ripen and deepen, year after year, and you’ll find that the couple has managed to express both truth and grace. But there’s more. The couple has... Read more
“And early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Mark 1:35 I’m ready for Lent. Because Lent is a time of “retreating into the wilderness with Jesus”, I say bring it on. I’m embarrassed by what Christianity is becoming in the west: Individualism is touted, at the expense of deeply committed community, through rap and poetry about love for Jesus, but hatred... Read more
Fibonacci Faith: Changing Everything
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