Quantcast
May
17

What Do We Do with the Bible? (part 1): We Read It!

The bible

In our series on helping new believers get started in the right direction, we have moved to what we can learn about God from what we read. But this information is not academic — it must lead to action. So what four things can we tell new Christians they should do with the Bible? The…
Read More

May
16

Two Key Issues in Transitions: Competence and Attachments

parkanlage

“I married the wrong man and I’m living in the wrong place.” A dear friend called from the east coast of the U.S. with these opening words. How would you respond? My response was not typical, but I knew this woman well. I felt my response needed to match her stark declaration. “What are your…
Read More

May
14

Is Learning Greek and Hebrew Really Worth It?

old book with greek letters

First, a confession. I like languages. I always have. There’s something fun about unraveling a new language, pulling the pieces apart, learning how it works, and then trying to put it back together again. It’s like a puzzle just waiting to be solved. It’s not easy, and like most puzzles it can be pretty frustrating.…
Read More

May
11

Our Disturbing Contemporary Culture

Angel wings

I seldom use a blog to rant.  Most of my posts reflect on things I am reading, and the aim is hopefully to be thoughtful and articulate. But there have been a number of disturbing events that have sort of piled up, creating a certain sickness in my soul.  So for those of you willing…
Read More

May
10

What do We Believe about the Bible?

wooden rosary on the open Bible

There are four things that followers of Jesus believe about the Bible. I don’t have time to cover them in detail, but let me mention them and I’ll give you a website where you can learn more if you want. This is really important material. The Bible wants to become your guide, and you have…
Read More

May
09

Ending with the Beginning

Concept of business break through

“Bev, I’m giving you many beautifully wrapped gifts.” “You will have great joy in removing the ribbon, the beautiful paper and seeing what treasure is inside.” We had just moved 3,000 miles across the country and we were transitioning into a new beginning.  Leaving familiar home, climate, friends and a loved church had already taken…
Read More

May
08

Leadership Core: Gifts

6a00e54fc5fb1a88340105364159e8970b-800wi

When Peter, Susan, and Lucy are running for their lives in Narnia – the White Witch fast behind them as her spell on the land weakens – they are surprised by a visit from Father Christmas.  Narnia has experienced a long winter with no Christmas and they are delighted by his arrival and by the…
Read More

May
07

4 Things the Law Does for God’s People (What’s the Law For, Part 2)

The Ten Commandments

Last week we looked at the idea that the Law is just a bunch of rules and that you have to follow to keep God happy, a divine checklist as it were (see Love Your Wife…Check). And I argued that this is a terrible way of viewing the Law. In the Law itself, God is…
Read More

May
03

What We Know about God through Reading

Old Book. Selective focus

Last week we looked at “General Revelation,” what all people can know about God by looking at creation. In doing so, we read the first part of Psalm 19. But there is information about God available only to some people some of the time. It is available only to those who can read the Bible.…
Read More

May
02

Don’t Get Stuck in the Neutral Zone

next

“I think I’m done.” “What do you mean, ‘done?’” “I think I’ve taken this church as far as I am able and now it’s time for someone else to come in and move it even further ahead. It’s time to transition the leadership. And it’s time for us to transition to another place.” The first…
Read More