Thank you for being courageous enough to share your reaction to my term “broken people.” It seems we’re living in a time when the virtue of respectfully disagreeing with others while maintaining basic human etiquette has fallen to the vices of partisan bickering, shaming, and name-calling. This has taken us Read more…
I’m sure you’ve heard of the fog of war, but have you ever experienced the fog of obedience? For twenty years Jacob worked for his conniving uncle, Laban. As the relationship deteriorated, God spoke: “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” (Gen 31:3). Read more…
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” To say that Nathanael’s snap response to Philip dripped with sarcasm is an understatement. Hear the word again, “NAAZ-a-reth?!” Underneath the printed words of John 1:46, I hear, “Are you kidding me? That Podunk town? Come on, man.” But Philip wasn’t joking. He Read more…
What is PTSD? Why does this matter for me as a youth minister? What are it’s implications for both civilian and military youth ministry? Brian gives great teaching and guidance on these issues and why this topic is crucial for youth pastors today.
Moses found himself in a bind. The people he led out of Egypt were complaining…again.
This time they were craving meat!
As I imagine the scene, Moses’ own sultry question shatters the commotion:
“How on earth am I supposed to provide meat when we’re stranded in this $#&(!@ desert?” (paraphrase of Num 11:13-14).
The people were so angry they threatened to oust God’s point man (11:15b).
Yet God’s response is incredible. He promises not just to provide a meal but enough meat for a month. In fact, they will be given so much meat that it will come out of their nostrils (11:19-20)!
Moses is incredulous. He can’t believe what he hears. “Would there be enough meat if whole flocks and herds and all the fish of the sea were cut up and put on a buffet line?”
To which God gives the famous answer:
“Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (11:23).
“Is the Lord’s arm too short?”
That question has dogged me for much of 2014.
As the year opened, we were staring down a double-barrel shotgun of two seemingly impossible goals:
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Here it is in quick free-write fashion:
The developing and escalating situation in Ukraine ought to be cause for concern for every one of us.
Here’s why:
kellyhui via Compfight cc
New Zealand mountaineer, Russell Brice, has had his share of mountain top moments. He has reached mountain peaks higher than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) 14 times, including the famed Mt. Everest twice.
And since 1974 he’s been helping other climbers achieve their climbing goals as owner and manager of Himalayan Experience Ltd. Needless to say, fewer people in the world have more expertise on the mountain than Russell.
Yet this is what he says of Mt. Everest: (more…)
This is the second of two posts on the topic of homosexuality. The first post introduced the issue. This post outlines the proper Christian response to gay individuals.
The $10 million dollar question: “How should Christians respond to gay individuals[1] in a way that honors both them and biblical truth so that we can earn the right to be heard?
It’s a tricky question for most Christians as tire-blowing and axel-breaking potholes litter the road surface. The main reason the topic of homosexuality has become a roadblock is because the controversy forces the Christian community to wed right beliefs (orthodoxy) with right practices (orthopraxy). (more…)
Fewer topics are more divisive within Christian communities than homosexuality. It is a volatile issue, splitting and dividing denominations and those who comprise them. Most church leaders would just as soon ignore the issue than take it head-on. Those that do, however, tend to fall into two camps.
On the extreme right, there are folks like Fred Phelps who broadcast the message, “God hates fags.” (It’s painful to even write those words.)
On the opposite side of the spectrum, denominations like the Episcopal Church USA proudly ordain openly gay men like Gene Robinson. (more…)
