Sometimes it may feel as if God is not in control. Calm down. I know. This feeling is more about our perception than reality. But I am not talking about what we know; what we tell ourselves over and over again. I’m talking about how it feels. The forces of evil plot nefarious schemes. The gathering dark clouds seem to be gaining in force and strength. Continue reading →

Just so you know, I believe that demon possession is a real thing. I have seen too much to dismiss it. But I also believe that demon possession is merely one tool in the arsenal of Satan. If someone gravitates toward selfishly evil behavior it does not necessarily point to possession. I read a book (well, I started to read a book – the relationship between myself and this book was very short lived) that claimed that every sniffle was demon related; every illness was a result of demon possession. Continue reading →

There are moments that are electric with building tension. Careful, don’t drag your feet on the ground, it might set off a spark. For some churches this describes every business meeting. It hasn’t been my experience, but I have heard stories fraught with outbursts of anger and smoldering hatred. Continue reading →

Have you ever experienced an awakening; a moment in time when the priorities of life smack you upside the head? After 9/11 some churches experienced an increase in attendance. Some watched those towers fall and the reality of the randomness of life and death came for an uncomfortable visit. Unfortunately, many churches are now experiencing a decline in attendance. What happened? Life. Life happened. T Continue reading →

We could talk again about the goal of apocalyptic literature. But that would be repetitive and boring. It’s like poetry. Much of poetry is not intended to be taken literally. When the psalmist cries out “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5 NASB), it is not intended to be a statement of theology. Continue reading →

Part of our problem is that we don’t understand apocalyptic literature. It is not a genre that exists anymore. And we also have these so called End of Times prophets jumping out of the woodwork professing to be eschatological experts. Just listen to them and they will expound the symbols. And here is where it gets interesting. They expound the symbols as if they were literal predictions. I am not an expert. I am not an End of Times prophet. But symbols are not intended to be taken literally. They are symbols. Continue reading →

I have a riddle for you. What does the offering of Isaac have in common with the destruction of Jerusalem? The simple answer is that Jerusalem and more specifically, the temple, had become Isaac. Maybe we should go back to the story of Abraham offering Isaac. It’s a difficult passage, isn’t it? This story has become a sticking point for many people. Continue reading →

In the parable of the two builders (Luke 6:46-49), both the wise man and the foolish man have to face a raging storm; a house destroying torrent. Well, for the foolish man anyway. The only difference between the two men is that the wise man heard and lived the message of Jesus; he built his house on the solid rock. Following Jesus does not keep the storms from raging. It gives us a solid foundation to withstand the storms. Ah, but the health and wealth gospel still clings to the tapestry of Christianity like cigarette smoke. Follow Jesus and get yourself a new car! Or house! Or a boat load of money! Continue reading →

In Josephus, War 6.288-311, the Jewish historian Josephus rebukes the Jews for not understanding or accepting the signs which foretold the destruction of the Temple. Many of the signs he tells of are the same as those mentioned by Jesus: earthquakes, wars, and the such. Some were very different like the heifer who was being led into the Temple to be slaughtered who gave birth to a lamb. Well, that’s just weird. Continue reading →

I am more and more convinced that we need the fifth word of the Ten Words. We need them all. I know. But the fifth one seems to experience some serious lack in our culture. What does it mean to honor your father and mother? The word “honor” is the Hebrew word for “weight, burden.” So, first of all, I don’t think the point is that our parents become a burden. No. There is plenty of that kind of thing happening in our culture. But they should have weight. We shouldn’t treat them lightly, as if they don’t matter. Continue reading →