Historical Fiction

Visiting with a young man the other day, I heard a brief statement that pinpointed a terrible problem faced by much of American Christianity.
“Jesus was born on the cross for our sins,” he told me.
Well, not exactly.  Jesus was born.  Jesus did die on a cross.  Both these events took place as part of God’s [...]

Thoughts from Exploration 2009

I should tell you up front: I did not officially attend Exploration 2009.  I was in town for a wedding, but Rachel sponsored my Music Director at Exploration, so I visited.
From what I saw, and what I’ve been told, it was a good event, well ordered and well run.
Also, from what I saw, the future [...]

Book Review: Through the River

Yesterday I found myself thinking I might share this book I’ve just finished with someone. I thought it might help.  I was immediately confused because my first impressions of Through the River weren’t good.
The book is Through the River: Understanding your assumptions about the truth. It is my latest read for review for the Viral [...]

Are you in it for the Long Haul?

Driving by Baylor this morning on my way to Common Grounds Coffee House, I noticed a field of yuong, recently planted oak trees.  Here is a picture of one of them.
Upon seeing this field, I remembered, for some reason, that it had once been occupied by a building. This building had once been a set [...]

Would YOU Buy What You’re Selling?

Do you know what the”WD” in WD-40 stands for?
Jon S. Barry, creator of WD-40, died recently. Inc. Magazine’s obituary piece is inspiring. It is inspiring to me because all the man did or cared about, business-wise, was selling WD-40.  Do you know how many different things this product is used for?  No one does: 80% [...]

Maybe Jesus was a carpenter…

We went around the table, each of us sharing something we got from the devotional that had just been read.  Toward the end, most of us settled into repeating something like: “Take your problems to God; God can solve any problem.”
The final girl said, almost under her breath, “God can’t solve every problem.”
Without thinking, almost [...]

Book Review: The Diversity Culture

I am finally writing my review of Matthew Raley’s The Diversity Culture for the Viral Bloggers Network.  I received two books at once and freaked briefly over the thought of reading and reviewing both within a month.  I had them both read on a three day vacation I took, but have let this one languish [...]

Money money money money

I’d like to pick up from one point that Michael Slaughter made Friday:
If it isn’t good news for the poor, it isn’t good news
This point went nearly unnoticed in my post yesterday, but it reminded me of something I posted a little under a month ago under the heading of  “THE Christian view on Health [...]

Blame

It is NOT my fault.  I didn’t get the email.
Wasn’t that someone else’s responsibility?
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,* to the unquenchable fire.* 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut [...]

Book Review: A Prayer to Our Father

A Prayer to our Father by Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson was one of my two recent reads for viralbloggers.  I very much enjoyed pouring through this book in a couple of days.
I deeply appreciate that this book is co-authored by a Jew and a Christian. I further appreciate that they acknowledge in the introduction [...]