Halloween now is different than Halloween then
Halloween, in our contemporary context, is really only about two important things: kids, and candy. For most children there is no religious significance involved in either the day itself…
What are the risks?
There will be persecution, frustration, disappointment, and pain as the Kingdom of God slowly uproots the Kingdom of this world. This world is still flawed and still corrupted, and the…
What do we need to do?
Repent and believe. Jesus requires nothing less than our full allegiance, and that requires repentance on our parts—a turning away from sinful behaviors—and belief. If we do not believe Jesus…
What do we need to know?
The Messiah is more than the sum of his tri-part office as king, priest, and prophet. Jesus is described in these three ways, but these descriptions don’t even come close…
Why do we need Jesus?
We deviated from our holy calling—God called us to be his shadows, his stewards—and as a result all of Creation has fallen out of its proper relationship with God and…
Why did Jesus come?
To inaugurate his Kingdom on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven. Jesus’ death and resurrection marked the end of one age and the beginning of another—an age where we can experience the Kingdom of God every…
Who is Jesus?
He is the Savior, coming to set us free from spiritual bondage like Moses liberated the Israelites from physical bondage. The Israelites were enslaved to the Egyptians, and their only…
Pastoring was killing me
Pastoring was killing me. The stress of leading a large church. The pain of budget cuts. Managing the relationships between staff and peers in ministry. Even though I…
Pastoring not Posturing
Much of Christian spirituality deteriorates into posturing. When we try to sound spiritual—as though we are experts on development, discipline, and growth—we come across as vainglorious, arrogant, and egocentric. I…
Origins of Halloween
Halloween’s roots come from the ancient Celts, a tribe living about 2,000 years ago in the areas that are now Ireland, Great Britain and northern France. The Celts…
Trick-or-Treat
I used to love Trick-or-Treating as a little kid. Every year, my best friend Geoff Wright and I would walk around for hours in our suburban neighborhood collecting candy and…
Blessing for a Wedding
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships so that you live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at dismissive behavior,…