There is an event called “Eighth Letter” where writers are encouraged to write a letter to the church in North America. eighthletter.com/ A site listing many other contributions can be found here: rachelheldevans.com/8th-letter-synch I think it is a cool idea and I think anyone who is following my blog knows what I would say. However, […]
I decided to post my sermon notes for this message so I can get some comments back and new ideas from everyone. It is kind of a loose amalgam of blog post and brief speaking points, but I’m throwing it out there anyway because I’m out of time and I have to go to work. […]
This is a response to a list of ‘problem’ verses that seem to indicate that Paul doesn’t really mean it when he talks about grace. My friend Kim Dickson (who is a wonderful Christian woman, and with a beautiful spirit of free dialog and exploration for truth) posted this verse in the midst of a […]
This is my reaction to one of the numerous articles about Ann Rice’s departure from the Catholic church. Read the article here: www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/religion/stories/DRC_Mann_Column_0827.94e71a77.html I am so sorry to constantly stir up trouble. This is not an attack on Jim Mann, whom I know and respect. However, the tenor of this is typical of just about […]
In dialog with a friend, Kim Dickson, she did my work for me and brought up some passages that might seem to contradict grace. I am going to work through these one by one. However, before I do, I want to think through a bit of groundwork. First, as Christians, we believe the Bible. The […]
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10, […]
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, 16, NKJV. This […]
The story of the prodigal son: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32&version=NIV As usual, I was thinking the other day about the prodigal son story, and I remembered a particular insight that I really wanted to share. As Henri Nouwen observes, we may identify with the younger prodigal son, or we may identify with the disapproving elder son, but God […]
The story of the prodigal son: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32&version=NIV Sometimes, did you know, other people get blessed instead of you? Sometimes other people much less deserving than you prosper and are honored. Sometimes, God likes to forgive and bless other people to whom you would rather see “justice” meted out. Sometimes God just will not do the […]
The story of the prodigal son: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32&version=NIV Henri Nouwen, in his marvelous little book “The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Meditation on Fathers, Brothers, and Sons”, makes the observation that if you look very closely at Rembrandt’s painting of the return of the prodigal son, there is something funny about the appearance of the […]