Good Ideas v. God Ideas
So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding…The city officials did not know I […]
The Birth of a Ministry Vision
They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I […]
Nehemiah as the American Church
This is the first in a series of posts from my current study of Nehemiah as a symbol of what the American church could be in these difficult and troubling times. I am hoping and praying the Lord will incline your heart to make this journey with me over the next several weeks, wherever it […]
Be Filled
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 Being […]
The Light of the World
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out […]
The Church God Blesses
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive […]
The Culture Wars’ Lies about Media
The Culture Wars’ Lies about Media: “We can rely on media/technology to give us an accurate picture of our community/country.” “Social media makes us more connected.” “Speed and efficiency are critical to our thriving.” The Battle Field of the Culture Wars The Culture Wars invite us to treat media, technology and the speed with which […]
The Culture Wars’ Lies about Political Solutions
The Culture Wars’ lies about political solutions: “The political solutions at play in the culture wars will be the most important changes in our community/country.” “The best/only way to make an impact on this world is through advocacy and activism around social issues.” Voting is Both a Right and a Privilege When you travel internationally, […]
The Culture Wars’ Lies about Otherness
The Culture Wars’ lies about otherness: “Everyone on my side of the culture wars is more nuanced and different from one another, but everyone on the other side is basically the same.” “There are only two sides to every cultural issue.” Those People are All the Same Here, we defined culture wars as more than […]
The Culture Wars’ Lies about Identity
The Culture Wars’ lies about identity: “We each find our own identities by looking within ourselves and trusting our feelings.” “Our political identities define us and are core to who we are.” “Choosing not to take on a political identity is choosing to be ineffective and inconsequential.” What does “identity” even mean? Wikipedia defines identity […]