Of course, Constantine is worthy of criticism on many fronts. He was one of the earliest celebrity conversions we know of. He may have been the first high-profile person to convert to Christianity for purposes unrelated to Jesus. And certainly, He was a bloody, vindictive Emperor who used the violent power of his station to […]
Two Preachers React to God’s Love. Which One Speaks for You?
How far would you be willing to go to ensure that the folks you hate don’t receive God’s mercy? That’s the question that lies at the heart of the Jonah story. Most people think the whaleis the point, but that’s a distraction. Let’s briefly recall the story. And then I’ll share a fascinating connection with […]
Hey Church, What Are We Building?
Standing on a broad, grassy hill in central Türkiye, I had a revelation. The hill was thick with thistles, periodically broken through by irregular bleached stones. It lay about a mile south of a rural highway, surrounded by farmland. If you stumbled on the site accidentally, you’d have no idea what you were looking at […]
No, Love Does Not Require Unity.
I’ve not experienced a time that felt more divided. Pick the area of discourse, and people are forming camps, drawing lines of who is in and who is out, and naming the folks on the other side of the line as enemies. The emotional temperature seems to ping-pong between frustration and rage. In this environment, […]
The Lamb is the Key: Why So Many Christians Read Revelation Wrong
John’s Apocalypse has been a troublesome book since the beginning. Many interpreters, taking their cue from the Revelator’s promise to “show what must soon take place,” have seen in Revelation a coded sequence of end-time events. The only work remaining is to decode the symbols to reveal the book’s one true meaning. Or is it?
Lent Reflection – Do I find myself condemning other’s faith or spiritual practice?
Mark 14:1-9 is the scripture I’m spending time with today – when a woman anoints Jesus to the surprise and consternation of the other dinner guests.
Lent Reflection – Am I drawn to apocalyptic end-time teaching?
Luke 21:5-33 is the scripture I’m reading today for Lent, where Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple in apocalyptic terms.
Lent Reflection – Do I mistake my religious observance for a life that pleases God?
Today’s reading for Lent is Mark 11:12-23, Jesus’ dramatic act in the temple and his odd interaction with a fig tree.
Lent Reflection – Do I expect Jesus to make my life and the world what I want it to be?
Today is the 38th day of Lent. I’m reading Luke 19:28-44 today, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to crowds of hopeful and adoring fans.
Lent Reflection – Am I driven by fear of loss and death?
Today is the 37th day of Lent. John 19:38-42 is the scripture today, the burial of Jesus.
Lent Reflection – Do I think Jesus’ crucifixion was mainly meant to benefit me?
Today is the 36th day of Lent. The reading today is Luke 23:39-43, Jesus crucified between two condemned men.
Lent Reflection – Do I have a need for God to be violent?
We’re up to the 35th day of Lent. Luke 23:33-38 is today’s scripture. Jesus is crucified. Jesus forgives.
Lent Reflection – Am I tempted to ignore injustice?
This is the 34th day of Lent. The scripture today is Luke 23:27-31, when the women of Jerusalem weep for Jesus.
Lent Reflection – Am I driven to avoid discomfort and insecurity?
Today is the 33nd day of Lent. The scripture today is John 12:20-33, where Jesus talks about what it really means to follow him.
Lent Reflection – Do I serve others even when it costs me?
Today is the 32nd day of Lent. Today’s passage is Mark 15:21, a single verse that offers us a fascinating glimpse into the life of the early church.