Apprentice 2 Jesus

Church Life

  • Stop Murdering Terrorists

    Growing up one of my heroes was Brother Andrew. I was reminded of his story this past weekend when a friend was listening to God’s Smuggler on audio. Then, this article was posted on Christianity Today’s website. The challenge in all of our lives as believers is to step up and truly love our neighbor. 1. We need a better Kingdom… Read more

  • We’re Never Going to be Happy… Or Get It Right

    We keep getting books and articles on what is wrong with this church or that church. With the Catholic Church about to select a new pope, we get the rehashing of what is wrong with the Catholic Church. So, here is my conclusion: we’re just not happy.  Someone may say, “I like this church tradition because… Read more

  • A New Reformation

    The sad thing is a call for “new reformation” is old hat. It could be called a new “manifesto,” but that’s been used as well. Simply stated, I have a stirring in my heart for the Church in America to do something the culture in America is refusing to do: grow up.  In America we… Read more

  • Songs We Need to Think About

    I wish we would actually think about EVERY worship song. I have unreasonable expectations. But this one jumped out at me today as I was in a chapel service. This line: “I want more of you, God.” I reflected on that, then heard this word from the Lord drop into my heart: “When you hear… Read more

  • Bible Reading and Bible Living

    A new Barna poll is out regarding “Bible Minded Cities.” My own metropolitan area (the Twin Cities) ranks 81. That’s not very high, if you’re keeping score. In Lutheran land, where people don’t actually carry Bibles because they’re in the pews at church, is this really “surprising?” What is the great mystery, of course, is… Read more

  • Disagreement

    Why the one word titles: HERE.  We are living in incredibly divisive times. I am sure we can find same periods, and worse, in history. But these current times in our culture, and then in the church culture as an extension, really have us in ideological trenches and it gets discouraging. We simply do not know… Read more

  • The Faithful One

    New Year’s Eve and hopefully we are making our way back to the frozen tundra of Minnesota. I had some opportunity to begin my work in Hebrews for a class I am teaching, so I found myself in Hebrews 2. By the end of the chapter I found myself in worship once again. I serve… Read more

  • Is Christianity Close to “Extinction?”

    In the Middle East, there is a story that is never told. We get caught up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and forget there are Christian brothers and sisters suffering for their beliefs. This story sheds some light on what these brothers and sisters face day in and day out. What I find disappointing is this… Read more

  • Best Christmas Present EVER

    The past few years I have been so abundantly blessed in my own life. When Christmas rolls around I realize I need nothing. I have my family. My teaching and ministry are so deeply satisfying. I have incredible friends. Outside of more coffee and another book, what could I want or need? In the past couple… Read more

  • CAN We Live Differently?

    In light of the violence of this world, I offered some thoughts yesterday regarding the fact we don’t need to live this way. There is a way that is different. But the question to us, as believers, is this: CAN we? Do we WANT to? I see as many believers posting things about “shooting back”… Read more