Jesus last words to his followers commanded them to make disciples of all nations. Disciples make disciples. Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it? But let’s reverse engineer that process by examining how Jesus describes a disciple. We can’t make disciples if we’re unclear about the goal. Remember, the Son of God has the authority to...
Read MoreBorn in Mud and Blood
True confession time—I’m a bit of a Christmas junkie, and on this, the day after Christmas 2022, I’m not quite ready to give it up. Oh, I know the over-the-top displays like the pic are heading into hibernation, but maybe we can extend it, in the spirit of what the incarnation means. So, think with me on that first one, and how we can live it out…now. In a gritty manner.
Read MoreWhen - = +
In confessing, not bragging, I’m pretty good at rationalizing what I do. I enjoy some of the more simple computer games: Solitaire, Minesweeper, Sudoku. They give my mind a break or are easy to do when I’m tired…OK, you see what I mean. But a recent Solitaire game gave me a spiritual lesson that might benefit you (see, another rationalization!). The game seemed at an end with no moves left. But…
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image by depositphotos.com
Keep Them as You Win Them
Take a look at the cross above, and which first comes to mind? The truth that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the debt for our sin and we can know him? The truth that we each must take up OUR cross daily, even at the risk of our life? Let me suggest that as we tell people about Jesus, we need to cover both. I learned that the hard way.
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When I Took Jesus Too Seriously
I never thought I’d write a title like that. To me, American Christianity’s greatest struggle comes with not taking the words of Jesus seriously; we prefer following our desires and cultural values. But a recent event showed my error. Here’s the backstory. Jesus taught…
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image from Harry How, Getty Images
Kobe Lessons
Laker fans first became aware of him when the team traded All Star center Vlade Divac for the right to draft this high school kid as the 13th pick in 1996. I must admit, as much as I admired his basketball skills and drive to excel, his brashness and perceived arrogance put me off. But…
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1974, me in the red tank top. With hair. I still have those beads.
Push the Envelope
A hot August night outside Beaumont TX may qualify as one of the worst of my life. I’d cruised out of New Orleans earlier that day, on a chopped ’73 Honda 750. For old riders who remember “Easy Rider,” yeah, it had a metal flake flag painted on the tank and side covers. In the pic above, that’s me with the red tank top. I took off on the trip with no notice and fewer plans. Just a backpack with a few clothes, a sleeping bag, a poncho for a ground cloth, and no tent. That last omission proved problematic. On this night, the heat and humidity kept me from getting in the bag, but the mosquitoes and other unknown biting Southern bugs put me back in. So I gave up about 3 am, and…
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The Fremont Tree
A Good Bed?
Trees intrigue me with the lessons they yield about following Jesus. The terms “Christ follower” or “Jesus follower” have grown in usage lately, for the good. Why? They require action. Following. Too often, “Christian” refers to what we believe, to the nation we live in. But following goes deeper. On that stroll with John through the redwoods of Cowell State Park near Mount Hermon, we found the Fremont Tree. A sign read that “legend claims that in 1848, Col. John C. Fremont slept here.” Fremont’s “bed” reminded me of what Jesus once said about beds, …”
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