My earliest attraction to Christianity was how seemingly defined it all was. I grew up in a quasi-fundamentalist, evangelical tradition. There was great comfort in a worldview that went something like this: 1. The Bible is the divinely inspired, inerrant …
It’s The Week After Easter, So Now What?
It’s the week after Easter. Now what? I’m getting a Master’s degree in religion on the one-class-at-a-time plan (expected graduation date: before I die) and in the biblical studies class I’m taking right now we’re studying the gospels. The reading …
What the First Easter Really Means
Most followers of Jesus are aware that there are four canonical (officially sanctioned) gospels in the Christian Scriptures—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These four accounts tell the story of Jesus. The same Jesus, but at times drastically different perspectives. Most …
Come As You Are, You’ll Be Loved!
The church heritage I grew up in left me with the impression that a person should get themselves cleaned up before coming to church. I’m not talking literally. Of course it’s a good idea to grab a shower, brush your …
The Doubting Jesus? (#TBT)
People can have pretty good reasons not to be people of any particular faith. Logical, emotional, relational, maybe even spiritual reasons. I have mine too. I have reasons I want to run away from what I believe or run away …
A Faith that Surrenders
My mother called me late one evening to tell me that my uncle was in the hospital. The ICU, to be more specific. He was very sick and his organs were already beginning to fail him. This event came without …
The Profound Hope of Luke
Our “Bible Experiment” keeps going this month. It started with The Gospel of John about a year ago. Then Genesis in November and Exodus in January. We just have two more shows—Acts of the Apostles in September and Luke in …
Personal Update from Joe
When I was younger all I ever wanted to be was a pastor. There were a myriad of reasons for that. Many of them positive: an honest desire to help others, an early-on realization that I was good in front …
A Dark Night in Kenya
When you bolt upright at 2:00 AM in a foreign country with the only thought being, “I’m going to die,” there are very few next steps that seem illogical. I was already awake, staring through the tiny holes in my …
New Year’s Resolutions
Every year, (I mean every year), I say, ‘This year I will not make New Year’s Resolutions.” (Which end up being false promises and short-sighted solutions to issues greater than this plan I am concocting can fix.) And yet, I can’t resist. …