For the past several years I have publicly discussed why I tend to avoid associating myself with Independence Day. For a few years in a row I posted what was called my “annual unpopular post.” It all began in 2009 (when I hardly blogged), with a post titled: An “unpopular” 4th of July Post… Why this is Not a Day to Celebrate [later re-blogged and nuanced the following year: here]. As you can imagine, the reaction to such a stance in... Read more
Right now at Pangea Communities we are in a new series for the summer season. We are calling it Threads and are walking through each of our core values – each representing a thread that weaves us into a fuller human existence. We have as our theme passage Colossians 2.2-4 (The Message)*: I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest,... Read more
With the new Left Behind movie coming out this Fall, I think it’s fitting to reexamine what the Bible actually teaches about the “End Times.” One thing that I realize when we talk about issues pertaining to the End, is that many folks feel in their bones that what they were taught is wrong. The hard part is putting together something that makes sense and is backed up by Scripture. Yesterday, I posted an article called: Why the Rapture isn’t Biblical…... Read more
I grew up in church culture. Most of what I recall from those early childhood and teenage years bring memories of good things. People genuinely taught me that loving Jesus matters more than anything else in the world. The world, after all, is corrupt and the place we truly long for is far, far away – heaven. So we are to love Jesus and hate the world. Now, this is not hatred toward the people on earth. I did not... Read more
Many of you know that a few months ago I had the unique opportunity to visit the Holy Land with The Global Immersion Project a few months ago. We went with the intentional posture of learners, hearing stories and strategies from wonderful grassroots peacemakers (both Israeli and Palestinian). One of the things that impressed me more than anything else was the posture of Muslim Palestinians towards Americans in their midst. No other culture practices hospitality like Arab culture. In a... Read more
Hi Friends, For those of you who are following along with our missional/anabaptist church planting journey, here is our 5th podcast. As I’ve said before, this will eventually be a full blown resource – more than just our sermon content. I plan to have regular interviews from practitioners and thinkers along with some conversations with folks within our own context. Here’s the latest episode… Get it here via RSS (Feedburner) Or on iTunes ——————————————————— Brand New Podcast! Check out the brand... Read more
Nick Cage is known for many movies… but perhaps the most out of place and provocative role for which he’s ever been cast is in the new Left Behind movie (hitting theaters this Fall). The movie trailer, released today, reminds me of Con Air for some reason. Anyway, here you go… enjoy this????? (or not… considering rapture isn’t in the Bible). My view is that this movie will be as biblical as End of Days or 2012. Now… watch this... Read more
God, help us to remember… …that life is a gift. To call it a gift is to imply that we did not earn it. Life is grace. Peace preserves life. So on this Memorial Day weekend we remember that Your intention for this world is shalom. This would be a world where human beings find themselves in right relationship with You – God, with each other, with the earth, and to one’s own self. Life is indeed a gift both... Read more
What is it about this new online reality that makes us assume. As the old phrase goes: “When you assume you make an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. Let me just that there’s lots of ass-u-me-ing that happens online. We have heroes. We have villans. On any given day these people become either. Not only so,but these people divide. “I’m for so-and-so!” “So-and-so is everything that’s wrong with our culture!” “So-and-so saved a puppy from a burning building.” “So-and-so... Read more
This message was based on the lectionary texts from this past week… and a few others. The primary texts… Key Texts: John 14.2ff, Acts 7.55-60 Support Texts: 1 Peter 1.4, 1 Thess. 4.16-17, Philippians 3:20-21, Daniel 7 We discussed the “many rooms” imagery and then evoked various passages that have been used to say that death is ultimately about going to heaven when you die. I contend that it is much more than this… its about new creation. That is... Read more
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