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Memorial Day
Thank you
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Back to the Man Who Started It All
The whole concept of “Apprentice2Jesus” arose out of reading Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy. Actually, it took two readings of the book, plus preaching on it, before I began to get what he was saying. (I’m an incredibly slow learner.) But as I began to get my head around what he was saying, I knew this was what my heart…
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The Challenge
This old challenge is rising in my heart yet again: Are we Christians who happen to be American, or are we Americans who happen to be Christian? Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
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The Promise of the Spirit
This weekend I am beginning a short series on the Holy Spirit. As Pentecostals, we are sometimes better demonstrating than teaching on this subject. It needs to be both. There is more that is stirring. What the Spirit is stirring will need to be spoken more “in house” (meaning more TO the Body of Christ) than “out here” (meaning broadcasting…
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Choosing the Good Part
The stories of Luke 10 give me pictures of ministry priorities. In the sending of the 72, it is remembering the call of God. Jesus asks the 72 to go and do what they had watched him do. Teach what he had taught them. Know your call. The parable of the good Samaritan is a nice bridge. One emphasis is…
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And the Hits Just Keep on Coming
I am not opposed to the conversations Rob Bell has generated by his book Love Wins. We need to have these discussions, though I don’t think they are going particularly well. We just have our problems with the concept of hell and wanting to wish it away. (A notion I’m not opposed to myself. But, alas, it is simply a notion…
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The Calling of God and the Call of Distractions
Luke 10 tells three distinct stories, all of which combine for great reminders of ministry. Years ago I remember a minister talking about how he wanted to live in the spirit of Luke 10. The first story is the sending out of the 72. It’s about the call. Ministers called of God can relate. There is the excitement of getting…
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We Know That Hell Sells
First Rob Bell, who hit number 2 on the New York Times list. Now, Francis Chan.
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More Small Observations on the NIV 2011
Yet another nice little improvement in the NIV 2011. In John 14 where Jesus uses the word paraclete for the Holy Spirit, the old NIV used “Counselor.” It is now “Advocate.” Also in 1 John 2:1 the update cleaned up the translation so it simply reads “Advocate” again to describe the work of Jesus. It’s nice to see these little spots…
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Living in the Power of Prayer
If there is one thing Luke shows us in his gospel, it’s the tie-in of Jesus’ ministry with prayer. When Jesus would give himself to prayer (and Luke points it out early and often) something happened. It’s no wonder that the disciples finally get it in Luke 11. They see Jesus praying yet again and finally got the courage up…
