Why did they kill Christ?
Christ made people angry. For example, Christ challenged the political assumptions of the Romans – referring to himself in lofty terms strictly reserved for Tiberius Caesar: Divine, Lord God from…
Isn’t it sad that no one knows what an Easter egg is?
The earliest Christians in Egypt used to give ostrich eggs to one another as a reminder to keep their eyes on what truly mattered. Ostriches are the antithesis of elephants,…
Prophetic Reorientation
Every church is different because churches are comprised of people and people are themselves varied, dissimilar, and diverse. Every church is called to be an agency of healing, but that…
You can get what you want and still be disappointed
You can get what you want and still be disappointed. Herod had ambitious plans for Judea, but they required Rome’s resources. He needed military policing and protection. He needed money….
Making it right
How do you make right the unintended, unforeseen, unwanted consequences of your sin? Well, you need to first acknowledge that – while you cannot control or even take responsibility for…
Ever wonder why Easter sucks as a holiday?
Ever wonder why Easter sucks as a holiday? Thanksgiving is great – food, backyard football, food, naps, the family you like, etc. Halloween is superb – dressing up, candy, scaring…
Jesus keeps the monsters away
When my son, Jacob, was about five years old he became woefully afraid of monsters. Having been unwisely introduced to vampires by a distant relative, Jacob used to lay awake…
We need more metaphors
Do you know what the phrase “Jesus H.Christ” refers to? These days, it’s terribly offensive- a very high level of profanity; but, its origins are actually quite sacred. It comes…
I love what I do
I love what I do. I love my church for giving me the opportunity to do what I love. I love the Lord for giving me the strength to love…
What makes leadership Christian?
If you do a quick survey of the Second Testament material concerning church leadership, you’ll begin to notice some unfamiliar terms popping up. There’s very little about how to manage…
When you muck it up
Most Sundays there is at least one comment in one of the sermons I wish I could take back. Usually it’s something crass, blurted out in a fit of enthusiasm….
Images from The Undwellable City
Today is my birthday, so I thought I’d post some of my favorite commissioned artwork from The UnDwellable City—a story I wrote for my son (also, my first foray into…