The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here's an excerpt: 19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 130,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that …
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Reflections from the Father of the Groom
With three sons and no daughters I will never be the father of the bride. Thank God for small blessings. I don't think I could handle it. It was tough enough being the father of the groom. But then as a pastor and the one who performed the wedding of my eldest son and his …
FOX35 Interview “Did Jesus Have a Wife?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86PcoQrqR8
Many of you have asked if I had video of the interview. Here you go.
Jesus said to them, “my wife”
Yep, that's the line that has the theological nerd world all a buzz. Of course it probably also has caused no small amount of questioning and consternation among the faithful as well as gloating among the skeptics. It all stems from a scrap of 4th century paper about the size of a business card on …
My friend Cristal, who authors the Refusing to Tiptoe blog is on an amazing adventure with God. This is a very thought provoking read that got me thinking a great deal about where I put my security and what I want most in life. It is well worth the few minutes to read and the …
Join the Movement
What movement you ask? It's rather simple. It is the movement to follow Jesus by actually living out the most important thing He told us to do, 'love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself". In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul tells us that no matter how spiritual, …
Chick-fil-a and Wondering “Where Have All the Liberals Gone”?
I had a seminary professor who was what I call a true liberal. By that I mean, she really believed in and lived according to the idea that we all have the liberty to hold our own opinion of things, live by them, and express them. Our differing opinions, when shared and engaged, make us …
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The Inherent Problem With Politicians
I was doing some research for a class I teach on the Book of Genesis when I came across this very provocative comment by John Calvin. His insight into the inherent problem with human politicians is as relevant for our day as it was his 500 years ago."It is a very common disease, that men …
People Who Sing Jesus
I need people in my life who are enough like me that we can connect, but different enough that they stretch me and make me more than I am without them. Sean Cooper is just such a person. His office is three doors down the hall from mine at Northland. In fact he is in …
Once again Caleb, the son of my fellow blogger Cristal, has wisdom beyond his years that every adult should pay attention to.
As we were leaving the Chimpanzee movie last week, I expressed to Caleb my frustration with the bad guys (or evil chimps) in the movie.
Caleb paused.
Then, using his gift of goodness, he gently corrected his mother.
You’re only seeing what the producer of the movie wanted you to see and the way he wanted you to see it.
Allowing the truth to soak in briefly, Caleb explained.
Scar and his guys were hungry, too.
But, the movie didn’t show us that part.
He was right. I’d taken the bait. Hook, line and sinker. I was mad at Scar and his gnarly chimps for attacking Freddy’s troop. (Because that’s where cute Oscar lived.)
I’d only looked at the surface of what the film had provided.
Caleb, on the flip side, perceived the other group of chimps in a different light. Realizing they were hungry, he had compassion for them. Even when…
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I love this post from my friend Cristal. She has a very refreshing and challenging perspective on following Jesus. Once you read this post you will also see that she has an amazingly wise and provocative 12 year old son named Caleb who has a better perspective on Jesus, faith, and religion that most adults I know.
This week, we are preparing our hearts for Easter Sunday using a Holy Week Worship Guide (thank you, Nick).
Caleb and I were together on our Holy Week journey one morning when I read,
Each year, thousands of faithful pilgrims made the trek to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and Jesus and His disciples were among them.
As I began to proceed, Caleb brought our voyage to a halt. His inquisitive mind craving the truth.
Wouldn’t that have been religious of Jesus?
Religious.
We are hearing much about religion these days.
Caleb explains he saw a man wearing a shirt which professed God hates religion but loves relationships.
Then did God hate Jesus celebrating the Passover, mom?
According to my 1949 Webster’s Dictionary, religion is the service and adoration of God as expressed in forms of worship.
An awareness of conviction of the existence of a Supreme Being,
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Why Forgetting the Church and Just Following Jesus is Not an Option
I am not great at sound-bite theology. You know the kind I am talking about. It's those pithy little sayings, often in 140 characters or less that seem so spiritual, deep, and insightful. They are easy to remember getting passed on time and again until they become accepted as a given, collective, cultural, truism. To …
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The Trayvon Martin Case: What Would Jesus Say to Sanford Florida, You, and Me?
I have done all I could to avoid writing about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. It seemed obvious that there was no need for one more voice to be put into the cacophony of anger, confusion, and dismay over what is at the bottom line an unbelievably painful tragedy for two families. But two things have led …
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Week 10 Study of Genesis
The video of Week Ten of our study of Genesis is now online. This week begins the life of Abraham and his call from God. Interesting how he can be incredibly faithful and daring in one moment and afraid and disobedient the next. Genesis Week 10 VideoDan
Week 9 of the Genesis Study is Online
Check out our online study of Genesis presented each week at Northland, A Church Distributed. Look forward to reading your comments and ideas on this foundational book of the Bible. Week 9 Video of Genesis Study Dan
The Provocative Christian 