Friday, April 6th, 2012
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5, NIV)
One theological term is historically center in Evangelical circles: penal substitutionary atonement. The idea is that Jesus exchanged his life in order to satisfy the penalty of sin that I would have had to pay. Jesus could pay it because he lived without sin. He was not just divine, but fully human. So, the cross is where the debt of the lineage I inherited from Adam is ended and a wealth of the lineage of being a son of God inherits life. (more…)
Monday, March 26th, 2012
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 2:4 (New Living Translation)
Does God raise his voice at us? As kids, we all remember the terror of our parents raising their voice. It could even be, “get out of the street, a car is coming” and be only for the safety of a wayward kid playing in harms way. The child reacts like we do. Some of us are stunned, like deer in headlights. Others, we move right away. Each tends to forget the voice once the next play activity begins. But, we are rattled by the experience. Maybe it is a boss who raises his voice in frustration. The internal reaction, even if for a moment, feels like death. If yelling is repeated often, it tells us something about the relationship or circumstance. You are not safe. (more…)
Sunday, March 18th, 2012
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Jesus)
Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
The moment matters. What does it feel like to be lost in time? I remember as a kid those moments when time seemed to stand still. No wind, sound, or light could move it any faster. Cruising on a bicycle through suburban streets, into open fields, and enjoying apricot fruit freshly picked from nearby orchards captivated countless days. The wash that divided our housing tract growing up smelled awful, which made it all the more fun to explore. There were no cell phones tracking us with GPS. And, we could stay out until the street lamps began the process of warming up. (more…)
Monday, March 5th, 2012
From the Circuit Riders to old-fashioned tent meetings the Great Frontier has shaped American Christianity. Homesteading brought a certain kind of independent people to the west where rules were being re-written. Pioneering meant faith would also be newly independent from European governance. So, today we have hundreds of Baptist denominations, with many independent churches of all stripes. In fact, the term “Baptist” was simply to differentiate those that immersed adults exclusively from everyone else in early America. (more…)
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