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The call to follow has not changed
It is a shame when we separate out the “God of the Old Testament” from the “God of the New Testament,” like they’re two differing beings, or two different acts of a show or something. The call to follow hasn’t changed. What God calls out to Israel is, in essence, what Jesus calls out to any who follow him. It…
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Our human arrogance
We treat God like HE is the One on trial. As skeptics, we come and demand something of God. We ASK of God. “If you’re such a ‘good God,’ why then…” But our arrogance is a problem. We forget something key: God has some questions for us. We just don’t like this impolite God, so we make one in our…
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A great moment in reconciliation
In the news, South Carolina voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the capital grounds. It’s a good move. Those symbols need to be in different places, which is why I’m not for just getting rid of them completely. Let me explain, because the title of the post isn’t referring to South Carolina. It is referring to my own…
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Being people of hope
N.T. Wright leaves us with a powerful reminder of our call as the Church in his book, Surprised by Scripture. The mission of the church is to drag people into buildings or to run raffles or issues statements. At some point having a place to worship, having funding, and stating beliefs do matter, but it’s not core to what the Church is…
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Theology becomes therapy
Following up on my re-read for Chan’s book Liturgical Worship has come my re-visit to Harper and Metzger’s book Exploring Ecclesiology. Written by evangelicals, it is an excellent tool for me as I re-think ecclesiology in my own life. In the chapter dealing with “The Church as a Serving Community” they still bring forward the evangelical concern of “preaching the Word.” Their conclusion,…
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2015.07.05 – Basic Discipleship Part 3 – Worship Intimately
“2015.07.05 – Basic Discipleship Part 3 – Worship Intimately” – A sermon from Heights Church Subscribe in a reader or on iTunes
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God won’t fit your tiny theology
In all of our disagreements about “wedge issues,” we continually allow arguments to be reduced to sets of verses. If an argument can be reduced to particular verses, theology then fits on a bumper sticker. God, and what he is communicating through Scripture, is far more complex and beautiful than reducing theological arguments to a set of verses. We want…
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Worship intimately
Three thoughts for day from my message: 1. Practice stillness 2. Practice spiritual reading 3. Practice Lectio Divina Do I hold his presence PRECIOUS? Worship is not just about the song we sing. It is about our listening to his words to us.
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How did we get “wedge issues?”
In American politics, we call them “wedge issues.” These days, it can be just about anything. But, generally, it’s throwing something out there for “discussion” that won’t get discussion because the person throwing it out knows everyone has a pre-fabricated response. Gay Marriage Racism Poverty Immigration Abortion Wedge issues. When did we get “wedge issues?” 1970s, when Roe v. Wade…
