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Immigrants and Strangers
As James K.A. Smith would say in his book, Desiring the Kingdom, everything calls for allegiance. All of life has liturgies all around. Which liturgy will call out for our allegiance and we will respond? We are in the thick of political season in the U.S. Let’s face it, as long as there is a media and as long as…
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Live in This Way
Our precious faith requires a response. It is not our faith, but the faith given to us. It is precious. Peter describes our faith as more valuable than gold (1 Pet. 1:7). It is genuine faith that will bring praise, glory and honor when Christ is revealed. We live in this precious faith to praise of HIS glory. This precious…
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Strengthening Our Resolve
In case you haven’t heard, we’ve reached the end of the world. I find it interesting there is far more interest in the Mayan calendar and how it might be right, while we readily dismiss Christians who regularly predict the end of the world. So, the end is upon us. Unless, of course, it’s not. When 2013 rings in and…
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Latest News on the Common English Bible
The Common English Bible seems to keep rolling along. “There’s a reason the Common English Bible is receiving such a positive and popular reception,” says Paul Franklin, PhD, associate publisher. “It’s probably the most literal Bible translation, built on common ground with academic rigor and denomination neutrality, which clearly communicates ancient sacred text in understandable 21st century English.” I am…
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Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Biographies are probably my favorite genre to read. I received the new Jobs biography as a gift for my birthday, so it was a match made in heaven. I am not an Apple fanatic/devotee, etc. We owned a Mac desktop (which did not give me the “Hallelujah” experience everyone raved about, but it was still a good machine) and my…
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Knowing and Doing Are Two Different Things
There are different definitions of “sin” throughout Scripture, but James weighs in on this one: 17 It is a sin when someone knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it. (James 4:17, CEB) We can know all day long what the right thing to do is… and just not do it. We can see shades of racism in…
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Willing to Yield
My wish for the political season as it kicks off: Everyone running for office needs to read the Book of James. Knowing that will not happen, I am still struck by the words compared to the political arena. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions,…
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Mercy Overrules Judgment
James is like an Old Testament prophet at times. In Chapter 2 he pounds away at the inequities he sees in the people of God. (He actually sounds like he’s been to some of our churches these days.) There is the age-old problem of favoring someone flashing money around. We just tend to pay more attention to them. James was…
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Giving Without a Second Thought
A refreshing look at James 1:5 from the Common English Bible. First, the NIV 2011: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Common English Bible: 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to…
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The Advantage of Adversity
The old saying goes, “Live and learn.” I have found that isn’t necessarily true. There was a friend in college who just didn’t really understand the purpose of the speed limit. Not understanding the speed limit in Wisconsin in those days was costly. He was winging his way through Wisconsin one year with some friends he was dropping off in…
