This past week I've seen a great deal of hand-wringing over two Christian organizations who claim to see fresh movements from God and the criticism seems to come for precisely the same reason. Since last Wednesday morning Asbury University has been holding a continuous and student led worship service, which while praised in some quarters... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: The Test
Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19 After these events, God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” Abraham answered, “I’m here.” 2 God said, “Take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him up as an entirely burned offering there on one of the mountains that I will show... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: The Covenant
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-21 1After these events, the Lord’s word came to Abram in a vision, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your protector. Your reward will be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you possibly give me, since I still have no children? The head of my household is Eliezer, a man... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: The Scandal of the Family
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9 The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless... Continue Reading →
And Call Them to Repentance
Reading through a songbook I stumbled on the now dated chorus "Change My Heart Oh God", this started me thinking about other songs that mention metaphors of hardhearted, or heart of stone and our need for change to be like God. Then I started down the Twitter rabbit hole where I saw any number of... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Reruns
Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9 1All people on the earth had one language and the same words. 2When they traveled east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them hard.” They used bricks for stones and asphalt for mortar. 4They said,... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Behind That Silent Night
Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 8There were shepherds in that region, out in the open, keeping a night watch around their flock. 9An angel of the Lord stood in front of them. The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10‘Don’t be afraid,’ the angel said to them. ‘Look: I’ve got good news... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Love Protects and Delivers
Scripture: John 3:16-21 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him isn’t judged;... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: The Promise of Peace
Scripture: Luke 1:68-79 68 “Bless the Lord God of Israel because he has come to help and has delivered his people.69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,70 just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.71 He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: On Service
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11 7 The end of everything has come. Therefore, be self-controlled and clearheaded so you can pray. 8 Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins. 9 Open your homes to each other without complaining. 10 And serve each other according to the... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 