The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? is a rigorously researched book that’s getting a lot of attention right now and says we’re at a crossroads: One path is to keep “fighting for power and influence in society.” The other is to “embrace our position as exiles, exercising our … Read More
Mantua Creek’s Impact!
Last Sunday I handed out a half sheet of paper to my friends in our little church plant (the pic above is about half of us) and asked “How has Mantua Creek impacted your life?” I gave everyone ten minutes and below are some of the responses I got. As you read through them, I hope you’re as encouraged as … Read More
On Facing Difficulties (Joshua 3)
Hey friends, here’s a provocative devotional thought by the late Bible teacher A.W. Pink that I’ve gone back to many times over the years. I’ve been thinking on it afresh in recent weeks and I hope it brings perspective and strength to you today as well: “Ponder the incident; visualize the scene before your mind’s eye. It was not an … Read More
Still Reformed and Saving Calvinism
Calvinism and especially certain Cavinists get a bad rap these days and, although some of that reputation is deserved, sadly most of our culture’s perceptions are based on stereotypes rather than serious study. But before I share a few thoughts on that, let me start with a 30,000-foot view. I’m a Christian in the Protestant tradition who believes wholeheartedly that … Read More
Shiny, Happy Christianity
O Lord, God of my salvation, at night, when I cry out before you,2 let my prayer come before you… For my soul is full of troubles…6 You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves…I am shut in so that I cannot escape…18 You have caused … Read More
Reflections on Prayer and the Victims of Trauma, 2 of 2
We saw last week that Psalm 137 acknowledges and gives legitimacy to the voice of trauma. We also learned that we can take even our darkest emotions to God and that he is big enough to handle our anger, hates, and desire for vengeance. But how does this mesh with the Christian concepts of justice and forgiveness? These are great … Read More
Reflections on Prayer and the Victims of Trauma, 1 of 2
1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? … Read More
Exclusive Prayer and Ministry Update-082623
“The Lord GOD helps me; therefore, I have not been disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame…” Isaiah 50:7, NIV Carpentry Well, I never thought I’d be taking this path at 57, but this “carpenter—theologian” has taken up his tools again as a way to 1) support … Read More
The Archimedean Point of Christ’s Death
One of my heroes of the faith is Fleming Rutledge, an 86-year-old priest in the Episcopal Church. Her masterful work The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ was named book of the year by Christianity Today in 2015—an amazing achievement for a 78-year-old! As a pastor who regularly leads communion, as well as a sinful guy who just wants … Read More
Silly Science (Part 2) and Why Creation is Still Good
One of the main contentions of Young Earth Creationism (YEC) is that “the belief in millions of years totally contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture.”[1] Last week we responded to one example YEC advocates Ham and Hodges gave in support of this (see here) and this week we will look at a second related to “disease:” “Evidence of diseases like … Read More