Apprentice 2 Jesus

  • Overcoming the DNA of violence

    He shall judge between many peoples    and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;they shall beat their swords into plowshares    and their spears into pruning hooks;nation shall not lift up sword against nation;    neither shall they learn war any more; (Micah 4:3, NRSVue) Read more

  • The deep joy of God

    I am working on synthesizing some thoughts from two books: The Spirit of Our Politics by Michael Wear and Jesus and the Powers by NT Wright and Michael Bird. There are three areas I am covering to put together some thoughts on how we are are live as Christians in America. (NOT American Christians. Note… Read more

  • Political and spiritual involvement

    One of the words we toss around without understanding the definition is “secular.” When it comes to being in the public square, it is a misunderstood (and abused) word. In Jesus and the Powers, Wright and Bird draw a clear picture of true secularism, where government is useful to allow religious voices to be heard… Read more

  • Downing Street doesn’t ‘do God’

    NT Wright and Michael Bird in their new book, Jesus and the Powers, deal with living out faith in government life as one aspect of faith and faithfulness to the Kingdom of God. They tell a story of Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Great Britain. In one interview, a journalist was asking Blair about… Read more

  • Resurrection Life

    We are now in Eastertide. Let us live… truly live… in the power of resurrection life. 7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:7-8, NRSVue) Read more

  • The Kingdom of God is FOR this world

    I am currently working my way through NT Wright and Michael Bird’s new book, Jesus and the Powers. It is some “prep” for this election season. More than that, it is necessary prep for how to lead in the church in a time when we face serious upheaval. We will have deep divides. The nastiness… Read more

  • The defining moments of history

    Resurrection. Without Good Friday there is no resurrection. The power of the weekend is overwhelming at times. But it comes down to the most essential meaning, one defined by NT Wright in this way: Read more

  • Good Friday

    Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Oh, were you there when they crucified my Lord?(Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble) tremble Were you there when they crucified my Lord?Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?(Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)… Read more

  • Two holy days in Lent that move me

    It’s been well over 10-15 years since I have begun my journey into the liturgical/sacramental life. The embracing of Lent personally, then trying to lead a Pentecostal church into that sacred space (slowly), has been quite a journey. There are now two days in the season of Lent that move me the deepest currently: Ash… Read more

  • The lovely losers

    Holy Week has its readings. Along with that I am still working my way through my “ancient wells” Scriptures and have come once again to the Sermon on the Mount. It is tough to concentrate because I just finished Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy, which focuses on the Sermon on the Mount so my mind… Read more