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Jesus and the Powers, Part 4
In leading a discussion on this book, the first week gave me this observation for our group: they wanted detailed definitions and detailed actions. Here is the “problem” with the book (and, also, with how Jesus leads): no finite details are given. Beautifully, when it comes to “actions,” they readily admit this:
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Jesus and the Powers, Part 3
Notes from NT Wright and Michael Bird’s, Jesus and the Powers. The problem of political power is rooted in the beginning. In creation. God set humanity in place to bring order. The problem is humanity keeps getting in their own way. The history of the Old Testament leaves us in a quandary:
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Lessons on intercession from Daniel
The more I walk through Daniel the more I see it as a master class on intercession. Years ago I tried to develop a series called “Living in Babylon” based on Daniel. I taught on Daniel, blogged on Daniel, did podcasts on Daniel. And more than ever I am convinced we need his example. American Christians need his example. As…
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Jesus and the Powers, Part 2
NT Wright and Michael Bird don’t deny the certain benefits of Christendom, but they also dive into the destructive use of power in that time period as well. We have to reach for something more.
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Juneteenth
It is important to mark this day four years after it was set as a national holiday. It’s important to remember this year because, as whites, we’re back to some semblance of our “normal” and the maneuvering done to attack “CRT” and “woke” have helped re-establish white comfort. So, Juneteenth rolls around and people are like, “How come the mail’s…
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The tests
Daniel 3 is the test of allegiance. It is not about being delivered from the fire. It is about the willingness to go through the fire. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were all tested. (I won’t use the Babylonian names forced on them.) They had survived in Babylon by learning the culture (rather than be summarily executed) and contributing to the…
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The confidence
My last post reflected on Daniel 2 and the expectation he had that God would speak. The expectation Daniel carried keeps me in thought and prayer. This isn’t something meant for a just a “chosen few.” As believers, we can live in the power of expectation.
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The way ahead is tough, necessary, and glorious
I have been reviewing the month of May in my journaling and notes and found there have been only two places that have been a catalyst for a longer exploration, though “longer exploration” is a bit of a misnomer as they took me on a path of further Scriptural exploration that was a few days… not months. Yet, in these…