I’ve been brushing up on my history – in particular Christian history. The developments of the early church, and the challenges it faced were incredible. We tend to forget the struggles to get the teachings of Jesus straight. It’s not like they could just Google stuff. Yet, the church held itself together for better or worse. One teaching that tends to get distorted to this day is Augustine’s (354 – 430) teaching on grace. That is, we’re saved by grace alone. Read More >>

I was having a great discussion with some friends about true freedom. Freedom is a word we Americans love. But it’s one we don’t understand, but we think we do – which is a dangerous combination. We think because we have opportunities, money, technologies, and enlightened thinking that we’re calling the shots. The reality is much different. Read More >>

There’s a quote from the Dalai Lama that struck me as rather odd. It’s about meditation and ridding the world of violence. Read More >>

I’ve seen and heard some statements about Jesus lately that struck me as rather odd. Some were relating to how Christians have stolen Jesus and twisted his words and teachings – this is certainly true in many cases. As well, many try to create their own Jesus. That is, they like his teachings on love and compassion, but the sin and Satan stuff is all nonsense. It’s a designer Jesus if you will. So who owns Jesus? Who is the authoritative voice? Read More >>

I came across a clip from Christopher Hitchens (1949 – 2011) responding to a question from an audience member. The video, below, is entitled, Hitchens delivers one of his best hammer blows to cocky audience member. Hitchens, very gracefully, offered to field any questions if anyone felt they were not fully answered during a talk he gave. Hitchens, admirably, was also open to any direct challenges. A question was asked that was loaded with presupposition, ignorance, and perhaps some malice. However, Hitchens did not, as the video title suggests, deliver a “hammer blow.” Rather, he revealed a limited frame of reference that was surprising for a man of his experience. Read More >>

In the video below, Craig Groeschel does a great job interviewing the devil about his thoughts on the church. It’s done in a humorous way and packed with truth. It’s similar to C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, highlighting the work of demonic forces in our midst. Now, many don’t believe in demonic forces, arguing that it’s all myth and/or religious superstition. However, few can deny that despite our best efforts we tend to tear each other down rather than build each other up – there are forces at work (inside and outside us) that we can’t control. Read More >>

Understanding the Last Supper can be confusing as there are quite a few opinions on it, and a very broad range of ideas. The last supper, of course, was the Passover meal that Jesus celebrated with his disciples the night he was betrayed. In the Old Testament, the Passover is when the Angel of Death “passed over” those who had marked their homes with the blood of a lamb. The Passover was the defining moment for the Israelites – it was their birth as a people. To this day, the Jewish Passover is rich in history and ritual. But what did Jesus mean by it? Read More >>

This morning I spotted a groundhog. It was near a hedge close to my favorite place to stop each morning to pray, read, reflect. If it wasn’t moving I would never have spotted it as it blended in perfectly with the gray/brown trees and darker underbrush. Then it stopped moving. It stood there motionless. I could no longer make out its furry shape. Rather it looked exactly like a dead log lying in the underbrush. It didn’t move for so long that I began to doubt I actually saw the little critter. Read More >>

Why Did Jesus Have To Die? It’s a great question isn’t it? Why couldn’t God do something, well, different – easier, less painful, perhaps. Couldn’t He just wave a magic wand or something? Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? A lot of us wrestle with this question. I’ll provide a very brief overview of three reasons – a lot is borrowed from Tim Keller sermons. Read More >>

Our newest religion is to question everything – nothing can be absolute – everything is relative. To say otherwise is heresy. To make an exclusive claim is to succumb to hisses and disdain. To claim your religion is the one true religion is seen as narrow-minded and archaic. All religions, this new belief system argues, are equally valid. Read More >>