There’s a parable in here somewhere . . .
This isn’t my story, it’s Neil Gaiman’s, but it bears remembering.
Radicals & Pharisees
It’s not what you think.
Memo to self: don’t get cocky
“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Skeptical conversations, part VII: The Holy Spirit and the Bible
On the role of both in our faith
The gospel according to Firefly
This beats The Gospel According to Peanuts all hollow.
On the power of stories to teach, part II
Inspired by Dr. John Stackhouse and his evaluation of The Shack
Our Swiss-cheese Bibles
Do we read the Holy Bible, or just the holey Bible?
Reflection on Amos 5 worship, for a thoughtful friend
The importance of reading Amos 5 in light of Amos 2
Out of the past, in the present, toward the future
On time and the life of the church
In defense of the church, part IV: Jesus
Whatever else may be true, however little we may deserve it, Jesus loves his church.
Politics in a state of grace
The founding principle of any truly Christian politics must be the absolute sovereignty of God.
“Doubting Thomas”?
We’re in no position to talk.
Skeptical conversations, part VI: Relationship with God (or not)
Salvation as a matter of knowing the one who saves
Worldly heavens make me ill
On the rubbish that is the popular idea of heaven
Firefly, Tolkien, and narrative theology
On the intrinsic theological significance of story
Explanations aren’t excuses
A brief note on the tragedy of Burma and those who would try to justify it.
Church as a missional community
The people of God are identified and defined by our destination.
Skeptical conversations, part V: The person and work of Jesus
This is the section of my credo laying out what I understand to be true about Jesus.
Thoughts on the idolatry of relevance
The way for the church to be relevant is not for the church to try to be relevant.
Prince Caspian
So I’m in the minority—I liked the movie, and I think I had good reason.
Thoughts on the nature of Christian faith
Neither simple nor natural nor anything like a crutch.
The Gospel in the Ascension
God’s love goes farther than our sin
.Why lawyers shouldn’t teach history
Those who misunderstand history will never learn its lessons . . .
The problem with historical parallels
. . . and as a consequence, will misapply them to current events
.In defense of the church, part III: Doctrine
On why the attack on doctrine is incoherent and unfounded.
Belated thoughts on prayer
Power isn’t in prayer, power is in God.
Humble knowledge
It’s important to remember our limitations.
The relevance of liturgy
We tend to misdefine relevance.
The God who speaks
“God is always speaking to us, and all of life is the medium through which he speaks.”
Pretzelbyterianism
Or, how to tie yourself in a logical knot to avoid reaching a conclusion you don’t want to reach.
Worship as orientation
“Specifically, toward God, flat on our faces.”
Fantasy, science fiction, and the epic
“Fantasy and science fiction, at their highest, appeal to an essentially theological impulse in the human spirit.” See also “Fantasy, science fiction, and the mysterium tremendum.
“The Ascension and the Second Coming
Does Jesus teach the Second Coming? I believe so.
Prosthetics, athletics, and the human future
We need to be careful how far we go.
Answering Islam on its own terms
And those terms are religious, not secular/political.
Holy discomfort
On Pope Benedict and his critique of the selfish, reductionist individualism of our culture.
The old made new—not replaced
All things will be redeemed, including the works of our hands.
The Ascension, the body, and the kingdom of God
Our bodies aren’t temporary.
Meditation: on barbering churches
Is the church defined by its edges? If so, how?
Brief meditation: on art
Considering art, God, mediation, and the problem of definition.
Skeptical conversations, part IV: Considering humanity
On what it means to be human.
Further thoughts on the Ascension: the value of our humanity
On the significance of the fact that Jesus is still the carpenter from Nazareth.
Score one for SCOTUS
Standing up for national sovereignty and the proper separation of powers.
On praying for heart attacks
“Make them stop or make them gone.”
What shall we do with a Christless preacher?
A few thoughts on the matter from a working pastor.
Iraq as a litmus test for presidential seriousness
Several truths that are well worth remembering as the President wavers on Afghanistan.
Respect: the lubricant of good politics
We should take our political disagreements seriously—but we need to remember that ultimately, we’re all on the same side.
The life of faith vs. the life of politics
On the temptation to try to achieve the kingdom of God by political means.
Skeptical conversations, part I: Who is God?
Skeptical conversations, part II: What is God like?
Skeptical conversations, part III: The problem of evil
The first three sections of my credo—think of it as a brief survey of all the things I believe about God, the world, the church, and so on.
The church, the prophet, the whale—and God
On the ways we try to sanitize the story of Jonah, and why we shouldn’t.