I’ve read a lot of church hurt and deconstruction/deconversion books over the years. Among my favorites is one by Brian Zahnd appropriately titled When Everything is on Fire. Although I don’t agree with everything in it (that’s true of most books), here are just two reasons I appreciate his book: Here’s a sample to give you a feel from a … Read More
Reassessing My Evangelical Identity
I’ve been in a season of having both the challenge of reassessing my vocational direction and identity, and the gift of reimagining both. And so, I offer this piece as, first, a way to connect with new subscribers and update those who still find value in this blog and are journeying with me (thank you!); and, second, as a way … Read More
Concerns with Catechesis, Part 2 of 2
“I’d rather focus on heart than head, the practical rather than the intellectual”—Sometimes, especially in reformed circles, there is a tendency to elevate head knowledge—including catechesis—over topics like relationships, healthy marriage, vocation, emotional health, or a heart for God. That’s why for some “attention to doctrine is sometimes actually avoided, lest it induce contention and cold-heartedness and thereby diminish devotional … Read More
Changeless as the Sea
Pam, I, and our dogs had a wonderfully healing vacation in the Outer Banks the first week of November. One night she captured the great picture of the moon above. It goes so well with a song I wrote many years ago that I thought I’d share the lyrics with for you the holiday. Although I wrote it on July … Read More
Ten Foundational Beliefs for Building a Christian Legacy, Part 2 of 2
Last week, along with going to a good church—where often one first learns to belong and then believe, we suggested ten essential beliefs for building a Christian life and legacy. In part 1 we noted the first five—hope, grace, humility, the fear of the Lord, and sin—and here are the remaining five: Spirituality, a word that can mean many things … Read More
How Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” Misses the Point, 2 of 2
Bart Ehrman is a first-rate scholar but he misses the point and it seems he should know better. At Princeton Theological Seminary, he was the student of Bruce Metzger (1914-2007), one of the highest regarded scholars of Greek, New Testament, and New Testament Textual Criticism in the world. In fact, Erhman dedicates Misquoting Jesus to Metzger and even helped update the … Read More
How Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” Misses the Point, 1 of 2
I mentioned here that I’ve been thinking a lot about understanding and addressing millennial apostasy. I’ve been doing this by identifying and looking through several lenses, one of which is a loss of confidence in the authority of Scripture. In my research, I’ve found that Bart Ehrman’s New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus has been a major contributor to this … Read More
A Critique of Gothardism, Part 3 of 5
As an exercise in discernment, this series critiques the teaching associated with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Advanced Training Institute International (ATI), and specifically their founder, Bill Gothard. His teaching includes a myriad of distortions and this post addresses examples under the third of six main areas (listed at the end of Part 1): A misuse of the … Read More
The Double Helix of Faith and Family, Part 4 of 4: The Discipleship Imperative
I mentioned in part two of this series that my mom’s parents brought a spiritual strength and stability to our family just by their proximity. And, when they left the area, a healthy spiritual influence was lost. I also explained that this was one of the factors that contributed to my mom’s lack of spiritual support and vulnerability to “bad religion.”[1] I … Read More
A Tribute to My “PDL” Friends and Other Sources of Hope
Every 2-3 months I get together for an “in-service” training with three of my heroes. They are part of Care Net’s Pregnancy Decision Line (PDL). Anyone in the country can call 877-791-5475 and these coaches offer live compassion, hope, and help to women and men considering abortion. They do so by presenting realistic alternatives to abortion and referrals to life-affirming … Read More