2013-01-09T16:56:46-08:00

Last updated on: January 9, 2013 at 4:56 pm   By

Here is a sermon I gave last Sunday on the book of Jonah, specifically chapter 2.  Would love to hear your thoughts! Peace! Jonah 2 – Embracing the Darkness (Sermon) from Kurt Willems on Vimeo. Read more

2011-07-06T19:12:52-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:12 pm   By

        While I was working on some research for the book of Jonah, I came across a quote that is worthy of pondering.  It makes me wonder if we in the religious community, on both the right left and center are making idols out of our theological convictions?  With all of the uproar about the future of evangelicalism and the coming split between the new Calvinists and those of us who don’t fit that label, I wonder... Read more

2011-07-06T19:13:12-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:13 pm   By

Failure.  I failed.  It was unintentionally, but nevertheless, I failed.  My goal for Lent has been to stay under $2 a day with my food and any extra expenses that may come up.  And yesterday when I hit the auto-sum button on my Excel spreadsheet, I realized I had topped the scales by $0.08.  I truly was bummed but then I began to think of the character of God.  If my goal is to appease God, then I am missing... Read more

2011-07-06T19:13:30-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:13 pm   By

‘How much more…….?’ In the midst of all the conversation hitting twitterland about the Rob Bell book and the conservative evangelical backlash it is illuminating to see how much of what is being said reveals what Christians believe about God. This is, of course, what Rob Bell calls ‘the question behind the question’. Or perhaps it has become the statement behind the statement. Many (though not all) of the leaders who criticise Bell believe that God has chosen a select... Read more

2011-07-06T19:13:38-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:13 pm   By

They say that if you put yourself into unfamiliar situations, that this is when creativity is birthed. As I am in the midst of eating and doing life with $2 a day, I am noticing that new creativity in the kitchen is happening. On a usual day, I would see eggs, rice, and salsa in the fridge and think: “This is lame.  How about a frozen pizza.  Or maybe, I will go out to eat.  Panda Express?  Chipotle?  Panera?  What... Read more

2014-12-23T13:56:18-08:00

Last updated on: December 23, 2014 at 1:56 pm   By

The history of our world is the history of our suffering together.  Every act of evil extracts a tear from God, every plunge into anguish extracts a sob from God.  But the history of our world is the history of our deliverance together.  God’s work to release himself from his suffering is his work to deliver the world from its agony; our struggle for joy and justice is our struggle to relieve God’s sorrow.  When God’s cup of suffering is... Read more

2011-07-06T19:13:58-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:13 pm   By

So it is four days later since I wrote last.  I have a couple of highlights that I think are worth mentioning, particularly about my marriage.   What a wonderful wife I have that she would want to partner with me in this $2 experiment.  I cannot tell you how much I love her….  Ok, enough sap.  Except to say that our anniversary last Thursday ended up being a great time to simply be together.  We didn’t need fancy gifts... Read more

2011-07-06T19:14:05-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:14 pm   By

Here is a guest article that will make you think.  I am not endorsing this as the Biblical view (although it is quite compelling), but as one of many views of hell that is consistent with evangelicalism. ————————————————— With all the fuss and furor flying around us about hell, I have some good news: Everything you need to know about hell, you learned in Sunday School. Let me explain it like this. If you grew up in Sunday School, chances... Read more

2011-07-06T19:14:14-07:00

Last updated on: July 6, 2011 at 7:14 pm   By

Thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement about food and my anniversary yesterday.  My wife and I had a simple day and I wrote her a simple letter that I hid in her car while she was at work.  She teared up… so I guess it was good 🙂 Here is a list of what I ate and I will be checking in again after the weekend! Organic Oatmeal 2 packets $0.36 Organic Frozen Juice 1 $0.32 Left over Rice... Read more

2012-01-10T13:00:18-08:00

Last updated on: January 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm   By

  Recently I interviewed Anabaptist / evangelical theologian, Jon Isaak about his new book, New Testament Theology: Extending the Table.  He has a great quote that is worth pondering as evangelicals seek to discern the essentials and nonessentials regarding hell and judgment.  He states: All four of these scenarios of the final judgment are interpretations that emerge from the imagery used by the NT writers. Should they be reduced to one? Should some be ruled out? Should one be given... Read more

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