In the first part of “Practical Peace” I looked at how the Bible describes the original creation—as this peaceful act that put everything in its proper place. It was a world where everything functioned as it was designed. LONG WAY FROM THE GARDEN But that is not the world in which we find ourselves is it? We have people getting trampled on Black Friday just for a TV, computer, or phone. I once talked to a guy who used to... Read more
***I was graciously invited to Central Christian Church in Battle Creek, MI to share with them during their Sunday School hour. The topic was “Practical Peace.” I figured I would share my findings with you all. Hope you enjoy. PEACE PERCEPTION Growing up I remember the joke about beauty queen contestants being a little…shallow. You know, not the brightest bulb in the shed. Not the sharpest tool in the box. You know what I’m talking about. Kind of dull; dimwitted.... Read more
Recently, news broke that the Pope has approved a change to the wording of one section of the Lord’s Prayer. Specifically, the part that is traditionally worded, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” The new rendering the Pope approved is “Do not let us fall into temptation.” The guys and I recently addressed this in our podcast. Today, I’d like to summarize a portion of our response. In addition, I’d like to present my... Read more
In John 15:1-2 Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.” Historically, I have always understood the need for and benefits of pruning. However, it wasn’t until I became a gardener that I came to appreciate pruning in its fullness. In today’s blog, I’m going to share my experiences with pruning and... Read more
This entry is from guest contributor and good friend Regan Clem. Free is such an abused word in our society. Things are always free with a catch. But the grace of God is not like that. It’s actually, totally free. Like comic books on Free Comic Book Day. Totally free, no strings attached. You go to a comic book store. You get free comics. You leave without paying a dime. Yet, did you know that stores have to pay thousands... Read more
Almost everything we think about addiction is wrong. The first problem identified in Scripture has to do with connection (or the lack thereof): And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). In Portugal, faced with a growing heroin epidemic, they decriminalized drugs and took all the money formerly spent on rehab and invested it in helping people re-acclimate to society by giving them paying jobs and a sense of purpose. This reform resulted in a 50% drop in drug use. The conclusion: the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but connection. Throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament, God strives to form his chosen people into a robust interdependent society that should be known by their love for one another. Read more
I just got home from watching Godzilla: King of the Monsters. There were a few things that stood out to me as a fan and as a Christian. So for today’s blog I thought I’d provide my own brief review of the movie. Then I’ll share a couple of thoughts on themes in the movie from a Christian point of view. I’m a pretty big fan of Godzilla. Not as big as some. I don’t collect books or figurines of... Read more
Today we have a guest blogger from my good friend David Schreiner. Dave has just released a new book entitled, Pondering the Spade: Discussing Important Convergences between Archaeology and Old Testament Studies. I highly recommend picking it up. As a bonus, if you read the recommendations on the back page you might see a familiar name. What inspired or challenged you to write this book? I wrote this book largely because of an annoyance that I have been experiencing when... Read more
The Church’s Place “God has not called the church to make this world a better place but to be the better place God has made in this world through Jesus.” This core thesis of my book Endangered Gospel has unsettled people since it was published in 2016. And now the concept is being championed in high profile places like Christianity Today. Just this week its editor in chief wrote an article using remarkably similar language: “The purpose of the church—the... Read more
If you’re a Christian interested in discipleship, then today’s blog is for you. We’re going to take a look at the Great Commission in Matt. 28:19. Our examination of the passage will accomplish two complimentary goals. First, I’m going to walk you through how knowing a little Greek can help unpack the meaning of a passage. Second, I’m going argue that, according to Jesus, discipleship is made up of two components: baptism and teaching. The heart of this passage is... Read more
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