Sunday Afternoon Musings “It is not simply to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians. Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause … More In the Midst of Enemies
I am continuing my reread of the classic collection of essays by C.S. Lewis, THE WEIGHT OF GLORY AND OTHER ADDRESSES. The two paragraphs below are actually just a portion from one long paragraph that is almost two pages long! They are among two of the most quoted passages Lewis ever wrote but are even … More Thinking About Glory, and Neighbors and Christmas
A poet and friend over on Facebook asked people to comment on a book he was reading, then listed a quote: “There are two principles that have traditionally been labeled in Christianity as ‘greats.’ One is the great commission about sharing the good news of Christ’s triumph over sin and death with every creature; the … More Proclaiming the Love of God with Love
It was the opening paragraph in the third chapter titled “Come to Me”. Five different biblical texts head the chapter and set the theme to be discussed. Every passage records Jesus’s invitation/command to enter into His discipleship. (Mt. 11:28, John 7:37, 6:35, 5:40, and 11:43-44). We might summarize them this way: “Come, . . . … More What Does it Mean to be Born Again?
Doing a second read on “THE CELTIC WAY OF EVANGELISM” (George Hunter, Abingdon Press, 2000) and this quote pushed its way to my consciousness. (The context is an analysis of the problems St. Patrick faced from his superiors one decade in to his 28 year mission to Ireland. Hunter then draws a parallel to the … More Has the Church Lost Its Way?
To paraphrase C.S. Lewis: “The world is asleep in an evil enchantment.” Ideas on Being a Good Neighbor So how do we wake up our neighbors who are asleep “under an evil enchantment?” Pray, pray, pray. But what do you do after or, better, as you continue to pray. Short answer: Engage your neighbors in … More “The World is Asleep in An Evil Enchantment.”
We are in Chicago attending a theology conference, but also . . . raising awareness of our new ministry with Standing Stone Ministries, acting as babysitters and large toys for our grandchildren, visiting our daughters who still live in the area, admiring the work and wonder of my son-in-law and my daughter’s ministry to their … More Lending Books to Change the World
I call all of this “preparing the soil to receive the seed of the gospel.” The picture and first paragraph are the metaphor for the idea. Fill the bed with a rich, light soil mix. A general all-purpose recipe includes 1 part perlite and 2 parts each of topsoil, peat moss, and compost. Mix it … More Preparing the Neighborhood Soil for Christmas
The king was evil and powerful. He knew what he wanted and was willing to do anything to get it. He was a fist-in-the face-of-God leader and was willing to pay for the answers he wanted. Four hundred of his lackeys were flattering his ego. And one lone prophet of Judah stood up to him … More For the Love of Christ, Give Us Men Like This!
Can a book published 40 years ago speak with relevance to our situation in a post-Christian COVID-obsessed world riddled with violence and injustice? It depends, but it is likely that if the book is part of the Multnomah Press, “CRITICAL CONCERN” series, that the answer is yes. Yesterday, I was in a conversation with a … More Have Your Relational Capacities been Crippled by the Obsessions of Our Evening News?
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