Traitors for Christ
I'm not really an emotional man, and change the last couple years has been so constant that (as much as I desire some stability in my day-to-day and week-to-week life) I cannot claim that the move to Colorado has thrown me for a loop. However, leaving New Hampshire about a month ago has had a…
What is your greatest fear? I've heard before that people's greatest fear is public speaking. As a preacher I've either overcome that or have learned to fake it pretty well, eh? Personally, I think my greatest fears (if I allow myself to think about it) have to do with my children. I won't go into…
Have you ever been asked to do something where, instead of lamenting the burden you were just handed, you felt extremely honored to be chosen? If so, were you especially diligent in your efforts, being extra careful to do it right and to live up to the charge you were given? If you haven't had…
This is it… The title of this sermon, “My Very Last Sermon Ever,” is likely an exaggeration, but this is the very last time I’ve been scheduled to preach anywhere. Michelle, Augie, and I don’t yet know what church we’ll be attending in the Denver area, and there is a pretty good chance they won’t…
Although some might argue that this means I am not a Christian (in that I do not hold all the "common doctrines of Christianity"), I think C.S. Lewis (from Mere Christianity) has the definition of "Christian" right: Far deeper objections may be felt—and have been expressed—against my use of the word Christian to mean one…
Narrowing Down Our Responsibilities I assume most of us here today are very familiar with the story of the good Samaritan. To conserve time we won’t read it all, but let’s turn together to Luke 10:25-29 and see what led up to it: 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test,…
If you are a regular reader of my bulletin articles, you already know that Twitter is often an inspiration for what I write. This week's motivation began when a Christian I follow retweeted: I am #atheism, and the behavior of the most fanatically devout is so often my best argument. #islam #catholicism #christianity I responded…
I think it came out yesterday or the day before…but here is JJ (and Dave) Heller's new video, "Who You Are": [youtube=http://youtu.be/F8jilr8qsYU&rel=0&w=512] A great couple who I wish all the success of the world without any of its trappings…
Considering the difference between today's culture and that in the early years of the kings of Israel, it may be a bit hard to do an "imagine"…but… Imagine you are a popular king of your nation, blessed by God. You make a huge, huge mistake, but you are honestly (and completely) contrite. You understand if…
I was at one of my favorite haunts in Dublin, California (Half Price Books) and saw this: Followed by this: Thoughts? Are these "good ideas"? Now, I can tell you this…whether or not a Liberty Bible or an American Patriot's Pocket Bible is a good idea, this is not:
Although I think this is also applicable outside a Christian context, ultimately it's appeal to certain Judeo-Christian mores may limit its relevance to non-Christians. Throughout web and podcast dialogue it has become popular to be snarky toward people and/or views that one significantly disagrees with. I use the word "snarky" in the context of my…
Clouds on a sunny day I’ll admit I’ve been feeling guilty lately. It seems to me that most of my recent bulletin articles and sermons have been less-than-positive. For instance, after a recent talk a young man’s mother told me that it scared him. And although she said afterward it was good to be scared…I…
[Before you read this article, please read "What I Think about Homosexuals and Homosexuality."] Earlier today (January 10, 2013), Twitter lit-up because an Atlanta pastor, Louie Giglio, withdrew his acceptance of an invitation to present the benediction for the upcoming presidential inauguration. Considering what Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee said, it may have…
Since current events once again force me to write about the issue of the pro-homosexual agenda, I wanted to make a clear and concise statement about what I believe about homosexuals (the individuals) versus homosexuality (the behavior). No one human, homosexual or not, is better than any other. We are all afflicted with the same…
Out of character for the Son of God? One of the sins of Christianity is that we have a habit of parsing God into pieces and then, for all intents and purposes, just keeping the parts that fit…that confirm…our picture of Him. And it’s not just God the Father we do that with…God the Son…