The Virtue of Seeking

I took up disc golf several years ago—it’s relatively easy, costs nothing (after your initial investment of a few discs), gets you out in the fresh air, and provides some decent exercise while you’re having fun.  That being said, it also gives you the opportunity to do something else—be a seeker. There’s no one I knowContinue reading “The Virtue of Seeking”

The God Who Believes in Man (2)

The book of Jonah provides a wonderfully rich case history of the God who believes in man. It begins with God commissioning Jonah to “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me,” (Jonah 1:2). God’s purpose in sending Jonah was not to condemn but to convict the NinevitesContinue reading “The God Who Believes in Man (2)”

The God Who Believes In Man (1)

I remember something remarkable in the College Softball World Series a few years ago. I’ve been interested and involved sports all of my life so there’s not much that genuinely impresses me—but this did. Here was the situation:  the score was 2-0 and it was in the bottom of the fourth inning of a seven inning game. The team that was trailingContinue reading “The God Who Believes In Man (1)”

The Fear of (Not) Falling

Our daughter, Amy, and her family live in Raleigh, NC (about 8 hours away), so when they told us they would be in Birmingham (2 hours away) for a wedding—we were excited about the opportunity to see them.  As it worked out, we were able to spend some time with Amy and her husband, Drew,Continue reading “The Fear of (Not) Falling”

The Cosmos and Calvary

And how powerful is God?  He is powerful enough to have created our galaxy. If you were to travel across the Milky Way, you’d have to have a large cup of coffee because it would take you approximately 100 thousand lights years to make the trip (assuming you didn’t stop too much). And a galaxy that sizeContinue reading “The Cosmos and Calvary”

The Best Thing About Church

The best thing about the church isn’t its cutting edge methodologies, its seeker sensitivities or its involvement in the latest, greatest social cause. It’s not its ministries, outreach, or benevolence. Neither is it Lord’s Suppers, sweet singing, or humble prayers. The best thing about the church isn’t its presence on social media, hospitality, or smallContinue reading “The Best Thing About Church”

Taking Off Our Sandals

Tim Friede has been bitten by poisonous snakes over 200 times in 17 years. It hasn’t killed him because his body has somehow developed an immunity to snake venom. He demonstrated this recently while being interviewed, when he allowed a Black Mamba to bite him several times. Normally, a Mamba’s bite can be fatal inContinue reading “Taking Off Our Sandals”

Sin and the Cross (3)

In the first two pieces, we looked at sin as a relational act of rebellion against our Father that exists at the community level as well as a personal level. We’ll build on this as we look at sin at a more cosmic level. This is challenging because what we’re told in Scripture leaves usContinue reading “Sin and the Cross (3)”

Sin and the Cross (2)

In a previous piece it was suggested that the ultimate way to look at sin and understand it is in relational terms. Sin is pictured in many ways in the biblical witness: financially, as wages, legally, spoilage, etc. These are all helpful in unpacking certain aspects of sin and enabling us to understand it fromContinue reading “Sin and the Cross (2)”