Explaining how the Christian Story is both similar to and distinct from other life-organizing stories.
I first heard of Monty Python’s Life of Brian when I was in high school. I was talking with a friend about Christianity and he mentioned the film: “It’s about a Jewish guy named Brian who was born the same day as Jesus. He was just an ordinary guy, but people thought he was the … Continue reading The Incarnation
What if there were an app for that? [see description] It would be tempting. Think of it: no more nagging; no more hearing about how you’re wrong or insensitive or, whatever. But, you realize what you've done. You've turned him or her into an appliance. Every personal relationship has finality. Think of someone you know … Continue reading God’s Law
Imagine one day you realize you are a character in a story. You thought your life was your own—that you could come and go as you please; that you had some sway over your future. But then, you begin to hear the voice of your author narrating you in the omniscient third person—explaining your actions, … Continue reading Stranger than Fiction
Detective Columbo is one of my TV heroes. First impression, he seems like an Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther—out of his league, bumbling, clueless. On the contrary, Lt Columbo is a master sleuth. This is revealed at the end of each episode when Coloumbo tells the second story—the sequence of events that shows, beyond … Continue reading Interpreting the Bible
You’re standing in a crowded walk-way. Someone comes up, looks right at you, pushes you aside, then walks past. You say to them, “Hey, I’m a person, not an object!” A person is a relating being—a living being who relates, connects, and holds conversation with other relating beings. It’s inappropriate to treat a person like … Continue reading Take This Personal (Triune God)
You can’t get to know someone from a distance. My Father-in-Law tells the story of how he met his wife. “I’ve got the perfect girl for you,” his friend John told him. It was September of 1972. The two friends were football players at the college they attended. They were on their way down to … Continue reading Up Close and Personal
The Bible’s Book of Proverbs is a resource for learning Wisdom. Not just any wisdom, but God’s Wisdom is there for us to contemplate and practice if we are willing to apply ourselves. But the real question is not whether you will live by proverbs, but which proverbs? Let me illustrate. See how many of … Continue reading Gain a Heart of Wisdom
In a military leadership class I took, we watched the movie Twelve O’Clock High. The story is situated in World War II and centered on the commander of a bomber group, Brigadier General Savage. After suffering heavy losses, the unit’s morale and discipline has plummeted. General Savage is sent in to turn them around. Like … Continue reading The Trouble with Trusting a Tyrant
Teach to Keep 