Category Archives: Devotional Reflection

What is a Christian?

Someone who trusts Jesus more than him or her self. Someone who entrusts his or her life to Jesus’ care, more than he or she entrusts their own life to their own care.

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God’s Mixed Message, A Christmas Meditation

A Bad Marriage For Christians Christmas is about Immanuel, God with us. Any reader of the Old Testament should be aware that Yhwh’s marriage to the twelve tribes of Israel was a rocky one right from the start. Many have objected … Continue reading

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Katy Perry, the Samaritan Woman of John 4 and what it means to be a Christian

Most of what I know about Katy Perry I know from reading articles from the Christianity Today website (here and here). That makes me feel super uncool and evangelical, but oh well… Katy’s story (for those of you like me … Continue reading

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Paul in Philippi Joyfully Bears Jesus’ Substitutionary Cross and Shares in his Vindication

Trouble Finds Him Paul having released the slave woman from her bondage to the python spirit now has to face her earthly masters. According to Luke, Paul and Silas are physically assaulted by the her owners and brought before the … Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Reflection, On the way to Sunday's sermon, Understanding the Bible | Tagged | 3 Comments

The Philippian Slave Woman casts Paul as the Unjust Judge of Luke 18

Here Comes Trouble After Paul accepts Lydia’s benefaction and he and his party (Timothy, Silas and Luke) are received into her home in the city of Philippi.  As seems to be the case of Paul if he isn’t causing trouble … Continue reading

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How the Resurrection Must Transform My Bucket List

The Bucket List I’m 48 years old, 49 in a couple of months. Among many in my church I’m still young. Among many in the church plants around me I’m old. Some have commented that I’ve been in a mid-life … Continue reading

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Christ, Culture and the Age to Come

Wrote this as a response to a conversation in the comment thread on Rachel Held Evan’s posting on NT Wright’s book. Trying to illuminate the relationship via prepositions (Niebuhr’s book “Christ and Culture”) is handy but limited as you noted. … Continue reading

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The New Jerusalem at Calvin College

I spoke to my parents today about their trip to the Festival of Faith and Writing. Mom was still brimming over with excitement and enthusiasm from the trip. Dad of course enjoyed it. He likes everything like some 77 year … Continue reading

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Loving One’s Enemy is Central to Basic Christianity

The longer I ponder the miracle of the gospel, the more I see that love of enemy is not some optional merit badge in advanced, exceptional Christian practice, but rather the very basis itself. We made no greater enemy and … Continue reading

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The Problem Trap

Pete VB from Voices posted a lovely article on the Problem Trap from the Alban institute. Nice article. http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9895 I posted this to Voices: I appreciate the comments and perspectives in this thread. When I was a seminary intern in the … Continue reading

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