Here’s a link to the message I gave yesterday at NFC, from Acts chapter 12. 2nd service was another powerful experience of God. A man stood and very vulnerably shared his depression, even suicidal thoughts. The heartfelt response of people to pray for him, and to meet with him afterward for further follow up and [...]

Posted in NFC, worship & messages 3 Comments »

Seeing graceful suffering reminds us that the fabric of our world, the lifeblood of redemption, comes through the willful suffering of God in Jesus Christ. The victory and vindication of God is not in glorious, overcoming power, but through redemptive, love-incarnated suffering.
Thanks, Matt and Bruce, for your helpful posts. I guess, Matt, the above two [...]

Posted in bible/theology, church thoughts No Comments »

Over lunch today, I was reading the latest Newsweek; in particular, an article about Pope John Paul II. I know virtually nothing about the Pope and Catholicism, but this article caught my attention, because it has to do in part with the value of suffering. The world looks on, sees the obvious physical precariousness of [...]

Posted in bible/theology, church thoughts 8 Comments »

I saw Senator Ron Wyden at the Newberg Fred Meyer tonight. He bought a bagel. I think he would have gotten a donut if I wasn’t watching him…
Anyway, it must be hard to be a public figure. This kid came up to him and started talking to him. Right before that, Wyden looked [...]

Posted in misc. 3 Comments »

A friend told me he didn’t think he could blog. I asked why, and he said, “I’m not sure I could open up like that…out there.”
I think one of the most important things that’s happened in my life is to realize it’s ok to let out what’s going on inside me out there. It’s ok [...]

Posted in finding myself, this blog/blogging No Comments »

Out of kindness to UNC grad and seminary friend Jimmy Barnhill, I have created some distance between my link to Jimmy’s page and my link to the Duke Basketball Report over on the right side of my blog. He got a little testy about that….

Posted in link fest 1 Comment »

Today, the powers that be at Barclay Press are going to be sadly disappointed…it’s been a long day, and I don’t have anything much profound.
But, I did find something fun tonight, as I’m sitting upstairs waiting for the kids to fall asleep (one wants someone close until she’s out). eBay is doing a treasure hunt. [...]

Posted in link fest No Comments »

Someone recently told a group of us that it’s become impossible in Christian circles to even discuss politics. The tensions and the emotions are simply too high to have any kind of discourse. But we need to discuss it. Neither party in America today comes anywhere close to a biblical platform. We have to name [...]

Posted in bible/theology, church thoughts 6 Comments »

I had an idea that I thought was great, and now it could get me in trouble. My idea was this: each week, the Apple iTunes music store has a free download of the week. I thought, hey, here’s a chance to listen to what some musicians in our culture are saying, and see if [...]

Posted in bible/theology, church thoughts No Comments »

It’s February 15…only two months of shopping days until tax day!
One of the things I can only admit to a few people is that I like to listen to tobyMac, once of DC Talk fame. It’s hard to admit to one crowd, because he’s a little too raucous. And it’s hard to admit to another [...]

Posted in NFC, comedy attempts 1 Comment »