George MacDonald dreams about heaven a lot. It seems like a good thing to do, especially for the hopeless times. If those dreams draw you into some separating reverie and not into love of thy neighbor, stop. Don’t have a UFO theology. Don’t just wait to get beamed out of here. Here is where youContinueContinue reading ““Is not the knowledge of difference essential to the deepest love?””
Category Archives: biblical observations
How to Read the Most Brutal Parts of the Old Testament
Getting to Know the Bible (Part 10) I really like the Bible. I am passionate about helping others get into it, too. It’s pretty intimidating to get started so we created an introduction course called Getting to Know the Bible. It’s 10 sessions given every year to whoever is interested. It is one of ourContinueContinue reading “How to Read the Most Brutal Parts of the Old Testament”
What would Paul say to the Church in the Philadelphia Region Today?
At the Getting to Know the Bible event on July 14th, twenty-five of us gathered to have a group project about understanding Paul as he is described in Acts and how he represents himself in his many letters. It was a 90 minute session so it was obviously just scraping the surface. The best partContinueContinue reading “What would Paul say to the Church in the Philadelphia Region Today?”
How do Yoga and Christianity Intersect?
I would liken the technique of yoga to the gold or silver or stone in Paul’s speech, but not in a dismissive way (I don’t think Paul is being dismissive either). I see yoga as an amazing means for personal well-being made by human design and skill. At its best it brings people very near to an understanding of themselves as people who are in God — living and moving and having their beings. But the means of salvation which is Paul’s proclamation, and, according to Paul, God’s command, is that we need to repent — turn around. I think among the plurality of yogis I know, this repentance is turning from trusting the technique that they can control to trusting the living God that gives them the breath that leads their focused movement.
It’s ok to say the Bible is unbelievable
At my weekly Bible Study in the cafeteria of Rowan College of South Jersey, a community college near me, we are studying the Gospel of John. This week we were reading about when Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes. (John 6) It’s a pretty incredible story. And by “incredible” IContinueContinue reading “It’s ok to say the Bible is unbelievable”
Bible Verse for When I’m Feeling Down?
Many people turn to the Bible when they don’t know where else to turn. Even my friends who haven’t been to a church meeting in years, or maybe ever, often revere the power of this holy book. That’s one benefit of living in a culturally Christian country. The Bible is everywhere, and that’s not suchContinueContinue reading “Bible Verse for When I’m Feeling Down?”
Jesus Was Really a Stand Up Comedian
I’m not the first to articulate that stand up comedians are some of the most influential people in our culture. They perform the important function of saying what is deemed inappropriate to say. Like the court jester who might be able to speak truth to the king (I’m thinking of the fool in King Lear),ContinueContinue reading “Jesus Was Really a Stand Up Comedian”
Epiphany in Not New Words
Washed by Jan L. Richardson paintedprayerbook.com There’s this amazing moment in the gospels when Jesus comes up out of the water after John baptizes him and heaven is torn open. The veil between this world and another world is lifted. Such a glimpse beyond the ordinary is an epiphany — a strike of lightning pulsingContinueContinue reading “Epiphany in Not New Words”
People are better than ideas
People change people, much more than ideas do. The best way to bridge divides is bringing people who are different from one another together in love. An idea is a powerful tool; but it is limited, I think, to political power. Jesus was most interested in people’s allegiance to him as a person not toContinueContinue reading “People are better than ideas”
A Paean to “A.D. Kingdom and Empire” on Netflix
They Cancelled This Show in 2015 …but I Just Found Out When NBC cancelled A.D. The Bible Continues, I had no idea it was a thing, but now, three years later, I’m heartbroken. Now I have watched all 12 episodes of A.D. Kingdom and Empire (it got renamed for it’s Netflix Release) and I amContinueContinue reading “A Paean to “A.D. Kingdom and Empire” on Netflix”
The Gospel Must Begin with Love
Where does your gospel start? The gospel does not begin with condemnation. It begins with God’s love. Why then do I know so many people who really want me to condemn them and the people they know? I have been accused as a pastor of not enforcing the rules effectively. They tell me I letContinueContinue reading “The Gospel Must Begin with Love”
What is the Bible IMHO
The Bible is the story of God’s people and how God has related to them for thousands of years. It is a testament to the work of God in the world throughout time but especially of the people of Israel and we who are grafted into it. It is written by witnesses of God’s work.ContinueContinue reading “What is the Bible IMHO”
Jesus is always messing things up
Jesus is a disruption. From the very beginning of his story, Jesus is a total disruption. Mary and Joseph probably had other plans for their lives. I’m thinking especially of Joseph who “had in mind to divorce Mary quietly” because she was pregnant but then he had a very unsettling dream. The baby was fromContinueContinue reading “Jesus is always messing things up”
Three Ways to Find Refuge and Safety
My new cell is meditating on a “lil nug” of scripture every week. This week it was Psalm 91:2 “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety.” After a week of terrible news in our personal lives and around the world, some of us were tempted to say “That’s cute.” We can read theContinueContinue reading “Three Ways to Find Refuge and Safety”
The Acts of Circle of Hope
“We can glimpse it in the book of Acts: the method of the kingdom will match the message of the kingdom. The kingdom…goes out into the world vulnerable, suffering, praising, praying, misunderstood, misjudged, vindicated, celebrating: always – as Paul puts it in one of his letters – bearing in the body the dying of JesusContinueContinue reading “The Acts of Circle of Hope”
What is the meaning of life and what if there is an answer other than 42?
In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy the super computer, Deep Thought, takes 7.5 million years to find the answer to life, the universe and everything, and the answer is 42. Those who receive the answer aren’t pleased. “Forty-two!” yelled Loonquawl. “Is that all you’ve got to show for seven and a halfContinueContinue reading “What is the meaning of life and what if there is an answer other than 42?”
God Chooses You
Here’s a little window into my thought process as I re-hashed some old biblical interpretation battles from seminary: I was reading Ephesians the other day and I had to deal with this word “predestination” again. In Ephesians 1:3-6 Paul writes Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessedContinueContinue reading “God Chooses You”
Like a Thief in the Night
I was doing something very dangerous yesterday- flying down Pine Street on my bike listening to Rich Mullins with my headphones in. It was dangerous in 4 ways: 1) The obvious safety hazard of riding a bike without being able to hear 2) The scorn I could receive from my musically cool friends for listeningContinueContinue reading “Like a Thief in the Night”
What I whisper in your ear, shout from the rooftops
We need to pray more. Everyone is shouting something from the rooftop and volume will not remedy the situation. If we’re going to meet the next 50-75 people we need to multiply our congregation at Circle of Hope Broad and Washington, we’re going to need to make ourselves available for a lot more whispers inContinueContinue reading “What I whisper in your ear, shout from the rooftops”
I’m not sure God is as unsure of you as you are of yourself
No, I’m sure- God knows you are capable of all kinds of awesomeness– much, much more awesomeness than you currently think. Our experience of ourselves is so limited isn’t it? For starters, my voice sounds completely different inside my head than it does in your ears. That’s why it’s so weird to hear a recordingContinueContinue reading “I’m not sure God is as unsure of you as you are of yourself”
Today, if you hear his voice 