Just in case anyone is wondering, moms (biological as well as those who are functionally mothers) are still critically and fundamentally important. They always have been and always will be. Even though motherhood had been through the blender over the last several decades, their importance remains unchanged and should be unchallenged. We neglect this foundationalContinue reading “There’s No App for Moms!”
Category Archives: community
Thinking about Church
Formulating a biblically accurate picture of the church can be like nailing jello to a tree. For many of us, our concepts of the church have been driven by tradition as much as by truth and separating the two can be difficult—but not impossible. Part of the problem (for some, maybe a big part), has toContinue reading “Thinking about Church”
To Judge or not to Judge?
“Don’t judge!” This has been one of our culture’s mantras for quite some time. We’re so emphatic about it that I saw a meme of a little girl pointing an accusing finger at Santa Claus and saying, “Naughty or nice, huh? STOP JUDGING ME!” Even Santa has been taken down by popular culture. Of course,Continue reading “To Judge or not to Judge?”
Who is on Your Road?
When Jesus told the story of the Samaritan, His immediate purpose was to provide an answer to the disingenuously posed question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). The expert in the law (v. 25), was seeking to have his indifference toward others excused on the grounds that neighbor was too ambiguous of a term. It couldn’t beContinue reading “Who is on Your Road?”
Grace and Community (1)
Luke recorded a parable given by Jesus in 18:9-14 of his gospel. The story is about two men in the temple and their approach God. The first person, a Pharisee, comes before God reciting a checklist of all the good things he has done. Interestingly, Christ never suggests that the man didn’t do the things of which he boasts norContinue reading “Grace and Community (1)”
Community and Communion
What happened in Eden did more than alienate us from God—we became estranged from each other! Redemption then is not only about us coming back to God, it is about us coming back to one other. The church as the body of Christ is the community of the reconciled, composed of people who belong toContinue reading “Community and Communion”
Entering the Arena for Christ
In the series Rome, Titus Pullo is a proud soldier of Rome’s Thirteenth Legion. But the time comes when there are no more wars to fight and he descends into a life of cold-blooded, mercenary killing. When he is captured and condemned to die in the arena for his crimes, he is resigned if not relieved, in regardContinue reading “Entering the Arena for Christ”
Love and Spaghetti Trees
It was several years ago that the BBC ran a piece about a bumper spaghetti crop in Switzerland. There had been a confluence of ideal conditions for the Swiss farmers: a mild winter, the nefarious spaghetti weevil was practically non-existent that particular year, and the Swiss, long known for their precision, had developed a strain of spaghettiContinue reading “Love and Spaghetti Trees”
Communion Thoughts
Being alone is nice . . . for a little while. Then we need people. If you think about it, even some of the things we do when we are alone give us away. We read a book, listen to music, watch something online, and do other things that to some degree involve the human touch and aren’tContinue reading “Communion Thoughts”
Patching a Rough Spot
About ten years after his presidency, Harry Truman was giving a speech at a university in California. After he spoke there was a question and answer session during which a young man stood up and in his query referred to the state’s governor in a way that was less than respectful. Truman, never known for mincingContinue reading “Patching a Rough Spot”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 