Thoughts, Prayers, and Comments
If you’re going to be in ministry—a person or church joining Jesus in his ongoing mission—you are going to disappoint people from time to time. You will not—cannot—satisfy all the expectations that people have. Every time we travel out of the U.S. we have new adventures in disappointing people. We walk through a marketplace and …
Continue reading “What about Them? Reflections on Mark 1 and beyond … Part 1”
If I could I would require every Free Methodist (and encourage all other serious followers of Christ) to read Scot McKnight's, The Blue Parakeet. Let me tell you why. One of the crises, perhaps near (if not at) the root of all our crises, in the church is the inability to make good on our …
As our new President journeyed to Washington D.C. and to his inauguration I have thought often of Jesus. There are similarities between them. Both came from relative obscurity and quickly rose to prominence. Both inspired crowds of people with soaring rhetoric and engaging presence among people. Both connected in ways unlike most other leaders. Both …
Continue reading “TRIUMPHAL ENTRIES AND SALVATION FOR THE WORLD”
When I look back on 2008 I think of Dickens' famous line, "It was the best of times and the worst of times." Surely the year ended on the down beat, the worst of times. Economic markets tanking and new outbreaks of violence in the Middle East threatened the automatic optimism of a new year dawning. But …
In lamenting the sudden, tragic passing of our friend Ryan Bartlett (see Dec. 3 post, “Lament … ) I joined the people of God who through the ages have asked, “Why?” and “How long?” In asking these questions we acknowledge that things are not as they should be and that change is coming. In Christ …
Continue reading “AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME IN JUST THE RIGHT WAY”