A consistent theme throughout the Psalms is to describe God as our refuge ( see Psalms 14:6, 46:1, 62:7-8, 71:7, 91:2, 94:22, 104:18, 142:5). Harbors of refuge come to mind as a natural example, a parable of what God is talking about. If you have visited wonderful harbors, you may have also noticed their beauty. … Continue reading God is our refuge
Category: Current Events
The church: from battleship, to cruise ship, to life boats?
EasterTIDE provides 50 days to consider the vast significance of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. His incarnation and redeeming work envelope us in a living hope because He lives and can never die again; neither can any of us who are regenerated by His Word and Spirit. On the other hand, and sadly, it seems … Continue reading The church: from battleship, to cruise ship, to life boats?
What is Lent?
What is Lent and what does it matter? From antiquity, followers of Jesus have set aside 40 days before Easter as a special time to reflect on their lives, to reorient, to pursue repentance (in the NT, that means a change of mind, heart, and what we care about), and to immerse in the Word … Continue reading What is Lent?
Podcast: Next Gen Theology summary
This episode is the conclusion and a summary of the Next Generation Theology series. What does the Bible actually say? How can we open the door to conversations with others? What are good questions to ask? https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=25816614
What’s going on with the church today?
What has become of the church we knew and what is going on with the church today? For centuries, until the last half of the 20th century, people could experience the life of the church, all in one place, at one time. This was my experience: great architecture of a building near-ish to my neighborhood; … Continue reading What’s going on with the church today?
Podcast: You can’t “have to”
The gospel or “good message” of the Bible is NEVER anything that sounds like a condition you have to meet, like “you can be saved if….” One of the essential elements of the good message—evident all through Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament—is that “YOU CAN’T HAVE TO.” Consider an example of someone who offers … Continue reading Podcast: You can’t “have to”
Podcast: What is the actual good news?
How should we be sharing the good news with others? What does it really mean? The way most people experience the good news message in their encounters with Christianity doesn't sound like good news at all. How can we begin conversations in a compelling and grace-filled way that reflects the actual good news of the … Continue reading Podcast: What is the actual good news?
Podcast: God has already saved you. Now what?
God has already saved everyone from before creation. Like a mother’s womb and the atmosphere of our world that provides our life – this is the context we are conceived in. Thus life and salvation isn’t something you get yourself into, but something you grow in awareness of, realizing the reality surrounding you. This is … Continue reading Podcast: God has already saved you. Now what?
Podcast: God Provides
What is the connection between the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of religion as a means of obtaining that happiness? How about the brief and vulnerable nature of materialistic happiness, the burden of saving oneself as counterproductive in the pursuit of happiness? Contrast all that with a religion where all depends on God. God … Continue reading Podcast: God Provides
Podcast: What is religion?
Religion, to most people, means a system of thinking and practices; most think of one of theworld religions. For our conversation, “religion” means “what governs.” Everyone does something religiously, and what governs a person can be known with accuracy, in contrast to what a person may say they believe. How many religions are there? There … Continue reading Podcast: What is religion?