Wilderness Preacher

The Magi as Messengers of Doom to the Powerful

2012-01-06T15:55:00.002-06:00

Today, Christians across the world celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is the culmination of the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas. In some countries, this day is also known as Three Kings’ Day, which tells us that the purpose of this day is to remember and celebrate the coming of the Magi to see and pay homage to the Christ Child. Of course, we are familiar with the traditional

The Incarnation of God Redefines Our Human Existence

2011-12-29T13:36:00.001-06:00

Another Christmas has past, and as we spend the last days of 2011 putting away decorations, returning gifts, and counting down the hours before 2012, it is good for Christians to once again spend time reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, especially after the hoopla of a busy Christmas Day. For centuries, Christians have celebrated this blessed event as the time in which God chose to be with

Singing Mary’s Revolutionary Song

2011-12-22T09:38:00.001-06:00

The Nativity is a longstanding symbol of the Advent and Christmas Seasons depicting the holy family gathered together on that blessed night. As we view the scene of the Nativity, our attention is of course drawn to Jesus, the new born babe. Yet, we cannot help but give some attention to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and ponder what thoughts were in her mind that night. Although Mary is a central

Living in God’s Kairos

2011-12-19T13:20:00.001-06:00

One of the interesting things about the Greek language, which is the language of the New Testament, is that it can use more than one word to describe ideas and things. The concept of time is one of those ideas that is described by two separate words. The Greek terms for time are chronos and kairos, each of which is translated by our English word time. But, there is a difference in these two Greek

What Does It Mean to Say that Scripture is Inspired by God?

2011-12-14T11:57:00.001-06:00

In response to a recent article I wrote on the subject of biblical interpretation that appeared on EthicsDaily.com, a person identifying himself as a professor of biblical studies wrote to me in an email in which he said that he was going to use my article in his class on biblical interpretation as a demonstration of “the fallacy of the liberal hermeneutic and mindset.” I took that as a

God on the Loose

2011-12-05T15:50:00.001-06:00

People tend to be control freaks. We like to control our circumstances, and we certainly like to control other people. From a religious stand point, we Christians may also be guilty of trying to control God. We like to put God in a box, as they say, defining God on our terms. Our reasons for doing this may vary, but I think two stand out. First, we like to control God because that helps us make

A Critical Interpretation of the Bible Shapes Meaningful Theology

2011-12-01T13:44:00.001-06:00

There are many reasons people may read the Bible, but for people of faith, the ultimate and constant reason for reading the Bible is theological. Most who read the text, or hear the text read, believe it to have something to say about God and God’s engagement with humanity. Indeed, the Bible exists, both in its parts and in its whole, not primarily for historical or literary purposes, but

How will Alabama Lawmakers Respond to Jesus?

2011-11-16T19:26:00.003-06:00

This past June, Alabama’s governor signed into law the toughest stance on immigration in the U.S. This law continues to be debated among the citizens of that state, while the U.S. Justice Department has stated that Alabama’s law is unconstitutional. I am not an immigration lawyer, nor do I pretend to speak to the legalities of this particular law. However, I do think that this law raises the

Flawed Heroes: A Reformation Day Reflection

2011-10-31T15:28:00.006-05:00

Today, October 31, is celebrated by many Protestant Christians as Reformation Day, the day that commemorates a little known German monk, Martin Luther, who may or may not have posted his infamous Ninety-Five Theses on a church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. This act was a challenge to the Roman Catholic authority, particularly the authority of the pope, and is recognized by historians as

My Sermon Manuscripts Online

2011-10-28T13:54:00.002-05:00

Dear Blog Readers, From time to time when I preach at various churches, I am asked for a copy of my sermon manuscripts. I am trying something new by posting these in the right-hand column of my blog. You will find the links to various sermon manuscripts that I have written under the heading "Sermon Manuscripts" which is just under "About Me". Click on any of the links and it should take you to

Self-Appointed God Protectors Hinder What God is Doing

2011-09-26T22:51:00.001-05:00

The Gospels are replete with stories of Jesus’ many encounters with the religious leaders in Jerusalem, and not all of them were pleasant. To put it plainly, Jesus and these religious leaders debated and argued on just about every religious issue of the day. Whether it was about healing on the Sabbath, eating with tax collectors and sinners, or paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus was pursued by their

What Would Jesus Say to the “Job Creators”?

2011-09-22T10:55:00.004-05:00

It seems that as the gap between the very rich and everyone else grows, many of those who are wealthy have taken defensive positions that expose how out of touch they really are. Indeed, Senator Rand Paul has suggested that not only are the rich getting richer,“but the poor are getting richer even faster.” And, Rep. John Fleming recently stated that out of the $600,000 he might have left over of

International Day of Peace

2011-09-21T14:13:00.002-05:00

In 1981, the Generally Assembly of the United Nations declared that the opening day of its annual session would be recognized as International Peace Day. Twenty-years later, in 2001, the Assembly determined that September 21 of each year would be known as International Peace Day. I write these words on International Peace Day 2011.The heart of Jesus’ message is the desire for peace. At one

Greed Prevents Generosity and Community

2011-08-11T08:36:00.001-05:00

Any casual reader of the Gospels will know that Jesus had a great deal to say about wealth and possessions and our proper response to them. In fact, he had more to say about the subject of money and care for the poor than any other subject. Indeed, Jesus constantly provoked his hearers with radical ideas about wealth and possessions; ideas so radical that we still attempt to explain them away or

Why Tolerance is Not the Answer to Exclusion

2011-08-03T15:51:00.001-05:00

In the first chapter of his 1967 book entitled, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. describes the state of the Civil Rights Movement in America and the state of white America’s acceptance of African Americans. He asserts: “With Selma and the Voting Rights Act one phase of development in the civil rights revolution came to an end. A new phase opened, but few

Sermon Preparation as an Introspective Process

2011-08-02T16:31:00.001-05:00

In college, and again in seminary, I, like most everyone else who has attended seminary to prepare for ministry, took one or more courses in sermon preparation. For the most part, these courses, at least at the introductory level, teach students on the mechanics of how to prepare and deliver a sermon. Despite what some church folks might think, sermon preparation requires a great deal of hard

My Struggle with Prayer

2011-07-25T16:50:00.001-05:00

I have always been a little jealous, but at the same time impressed, with folks who give a lot of time and effort toward praying. I am especially impressed by those who, without any hesitation, put so much faith in the act of prayer. These “prayer warriors” model for the rest of us a relentless belief that God hears our prayers and that God answers our prayers. Indeed, these folks will not only

What Would Jesus Say to Our Leaders?

2011-07-19T11:50:00.001-05:00

One of the sad facts about American Christianity is that many Christians are ignorant of the political nature of Jesus’ message. Preferring to see Jesus in only spiritual terms, and his message as only about salvation and heaven, we often miss the significance of Jesus as a political figure. I don’t mean to suggest that we should see Jesus like we see politicians today. Rather, we should gain

Jesus Wthout Borders

2011-07-14T10:03:00.001-05:00

Borders are interesting concepts that have been around since the dawn of creation. Borders are those barriers that we construct to keep those we want out, out. Nations have borders, and in our current political climate, there is much discussion about keeping our borders more secure, making sure that not just anyone comes through them. But nations are not the only entities that create borders.

“Patriotism is Not Enough”

2011-07-01T08:46:00.001-05:00

Here is a piece I wrote three years ago, but still has implications for how we view patriotism.Several years ago, while on a family trip to London, we were making our way up from Trafalgar Square to St. Martin’s Place. As we headed toward the National Portrait Gallery, I glanced at one of the many statues that surround this area of Britain’s capital. My glance at the stone monument, however,

God and the Problem of Suffering

2011-06-28T15:00:00.001-05:00

There is probably no greater argument for God’s non-existence than the problem of evil. Theodicy, a term used by philosophers and theologians to define the problem of evil, is a problem for theists because if God exists as an all-knowing, all-powerful and all-loving God, why is there evil and suffering? The atheist would argue, for the most part, that if God did exist and was all-knowing and

The Inclusive Church: E Pluribus Unum

2011-06-16T14:20:00.002-05:00

E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. Although this phrase expresses a motto that has historically been tied to the United States, when I think of this saying, I cannot help but look further back in time to the Day of Pentecost narrated in Acts 2.In fact, in reading what takes place in Acts 2 with this early group of followers of Jesus who were waiting on the promised spirit, the very meaning of the

Jerusalem Should be a City of Peace for People of All Faiths

2011-06-15T13:48:00.003-05:00

On May 16, 2011, Glen Beck announced his next rally, which is to be held on August 24 in Jerusalem, calling it Restoring Courage. Beck’s announcement, which came two days after the sixty-third anniversary of Israel’s declaration of sovereignty on May 14, 1948, was in reaction to President Obama’s remarks concerning the need to create a two state solution based on the 1967 borders. Beck, like

There is No Other God but God

2011-05-31T14:44:00.002-05:00

In Acts 17:22-31 we read about Paul’s preaching to the Athenians, whom Paul acknowledges to be religious, particularly concerning the image they have dedicated to an “unknown God.” Paul’s message, however, is to proclaim to these Athenians that this God is not unknown. Rather, the unknown God to which they have erected this image is the one true God of the universe; “the God who made the world

Can Faith and Doubt Coexist?

2011-05-25T13:37:00.001-05:00

At the bottom of my email messages, just below my contact information, I have this quote from Thomas Merton, "A person is known better by his questions than his answers." I have it there because these words sum up my understanding of religious faith. Faith is not about answers. Faith is about questions.This way of thinking, for some odd reason, comes natural to me. In fact, those who know me

End-Time Delusions and the False Prophets Who Create Them

2011-05-23T08:49:00.001-05:00

(In light of the "rapture" not taking place this past Saturday, I am re-posting a piece that I wrote back in November of 2009.)I thought Hal Lindsey was dead, but I discovered he is quite alive when I ran into him on TV the other night. But not only is he very much alive, the end-times prophecy that forms the basis of his theological and political perspective on the world is also very much alive

Christian Faith in Flux

2011-05-18T13:36:00.002-05:00

(Note to readers: After about a 5 month hiatus due to various important responsibilities, I am hoping to return to consistent writing and posting. Please continue to check back.)The 21st century world is one that is in constant flux. The advances in technology, the continuing spread of globalization, the uprisings in the Arab world, and the growing interaction between diverse cultures presents

What Does It Really Mean to Believe the Christmas Story?

2010-12-22T10:01:00.000-06:00

The biblical stories are replete with calls to believe and people who choose to believe or not to believe in God. Of course, the more familiar expression we use in speaking of this act of believing is to have faith. Whether we read stories of individuals in Israel’s history, or ancient Israel’s history as a nation, or whether we read the narratives surrounding the coming of Jesus, we are always

Advent is a Season of Listening

2010-12-08T11:16:00.000-06:00

The fundamental statement of belief from ancient Israel’s history is found in Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear O’ Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” This confession begins with a command to hear, a command that Jesus often reiterated through his well known statement, “Let anyone who has ears to hear, listen.” Indeed, we find many references to the act of hearing throughout scripture, implying

Advent is a Season of Waiting on God

2010-12-03T15:20:00.001-06:00

This past Sunday marked the beginning of the Christian calendar with the start of the season of Advent. The word Advent comes from the Latin meaning “coming”, and the season that bears this title consists of the four Sundays before Christmas that look with anticipation to the coming of Christ. While we celebrate this time as a time of looking forward to the celebration of Christ’s birth, the

Thanksgiving as a Way of Life

2010-11-23T14:21:00.000-06:00

This week, Americans will celebrate a treasured holiday in our nation’s history, Thanksgiving Day. On this day, families will gather around the table to share turkey, dressing, and all the other fixings before they laze away the afternoon visiting with relatives, taking naps, or watching football. Many families will take a few moments at the table, before they partake of the delicious food,

Should we ever Question the Bible?

2010-11-05T13:24:00.000-05:00

I was recently engaged in an exchange on Facebook when the question of Paul was raised. In the course of the discussion, I mentioned the fact that some of Paul’s teachings had been used to support the subjugation of women and others. One responder replied to my comment by first insulting me, and then by skirting the evidence that indeed there are teachings in Paul’s writings that have been used

Christians Are Called to Seek the Shalom of the City

2010-10-11T16:33:00.002-05:00

What is the role of the church in society? What does it mean for Christians to be in the world, but not of the world? How do we remain faithful to our Christian confession and identity, but also engage the culture around us? These are important questions for us to consider, and they have been questions of considerable debate among Christians since the time of the early church. There are some

Peacemaking is the Heart of Jesus’ Message

2010-09-21T11:11:00.002-05:00

In 1981, the Generally Assembly of the United Nations declared that the opening day of its annual session would be recognized as International Peace Day. Twenty-years later, in 2001, the Assembly determined that September 21 of each year would be known as International Peace Day. I write these words on International Peace Day 2010.The heart of Jesus’ message is the desire for peace. At one

Religious Literacy Cultivates Authentic Understanding

2010-08-04T15:08:00.012-05:00

The recent heated debates and arguments over the building of an Islamic Center in New York, as well as the clashes in other parts of the U.S. over the planned construction of Islamic structures, not only exposes an irrational fear of Islam, but a lack of religious literacy Americans have about Islam, and for that matter about religion. Such ignorance only increases our misunderstandings and

“Driven by Faith, Not by Fear”

2010-07-15T14:37:00.002-05:00

One of the Internet sites I frequently visit is operated by a grassroots organization known as Faithful America. Faithful America’s focus is to get people of faith involved to address the pressing moral issues of our time, such as poverty, immigration, climate change, and peace. As their website states, they are “building a powerful grassroots movement to put justice and the common good back at

A Candidate’s Religion, or Lack Thereof, Should be Personal, not Political

2010-07-01T23:20:00.003-05:00

The relationship between religion and politics is always a messy one; sometimes too messy. As the recent primary elections in South Carolina and Nevada have demonstrated, politicians can easily use religion as a weapon against political rivals (See Brian Kaylor’s Baptist Attacks Fail on Candidate's Religion at EthicsDaily.com). This is not new. Candidate Obama faced continual questions over his

Is Jesus Popular?

2010-06-24T15:06:00.001-05:00

I have three teenagers. One is about to begin his university studies at the college where I am currently employed. The other two are still in high school. Having high school and college age kids means that our mail box is often flooded by post cards from various universities across the nation. Almost daily we receive another advertisement from a college that communicates to the prospective

Having All Things in Common: The Essence of Christian Community

2010-05-28T13:14:00.003-05:00

The book of Acts includes two summary passages that describe the character of the first century church (Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-37). In both references, Luke, the author of Acts, narrates that the early believers gathered for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread. Even in our churches today, these actions are familiar and normal to us, as these are still considered the central acts

Seeking God’s Will for Your Life: A Message for Graduates (And the Rest of Us)

2010-05-18T10:27:00.001-05:00

I work at a university, coach a high school girls’ soccer team, and have three teenagers, one of whom will finish high school this month. From all of these contexts, I have witnessed both the joys of graduation, either from high school or from college, as well as the uncertainties young people face as they embark on the next chapter in their lives. Many of those graduates that I have the

God Dreams of Welcoming All People

2010-05-06T14:36:00.000-05:00

Acts chapter 10 tells of the vision Peter encounters while he is at prayer; a vision that brought about a radical shift in not only Peter’s life, but also in the movement that would become known as Christianity.In that experience, Peter came to realize that ethnic, racial, and cultural differences cannot hinder the proclamation of the gospel and the work of God to create a new humanity that would

I’m a Social Justice Christian

2010-04-21T14:29:00.001-05:00

Most readers of this post are by now familiar with the statements made by the Fox News commentator, Glenn Beck, warning people of faith that if their places of worship speak about social justice, they should run away. Many Christians, from various denominational and political backgrounds, have already spoken out against Beck’s comments and his equating social justice to Nazism and Communism.

Mark’s Unsatisfying, but Compelling Ending

2010-04-08T10:20:00.001-05:00

Since the early days of the movement that would become known as Christianity, the story of the resurrection of Jesus has been celebrated across many Christian traditions throughout the span of church history. If there is one thing that unites all Christians around the globe, even if they are only loosely united, it is the resurrection story.In the reflections that I have been writing recently,

Lent Reflection: The Crucified Messiah

2010-03-31T16:47:00.001-05:00

The penultimate event in each of the four canonical Gospels is the death of Jesus by crucifixion. As modern readers of these stories, particularly living a world that celebrates violence, and especially after we swarmed theaters in 2004 to watch Mel Gibson’s depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus, we might wonder why none of the four Gospels describe the grotesque details of crucifixion. They

Lent Reflection: Jesus’ Garden Prayer Models a Faithful Response to Suffering

2010-03-25T15:11:00.002-05:00

As Jesus and his disciples move closer to the event of Jesus’ trial and execution, which he seems to know is coming, but they seem to ignore, we, as readers of Mark’s story, begin to suspect that the drama of the narrative is about to reach its crescendo. Indeed, beginning in Mark 14, the narrative is pointedly focused on Jesus’ suffering and death, and one scene in particular captures the

Lent Reflection: A Major Example from a Minor Character

2010-03-18T10:57:00.002-05:00

The Gospels are stories. That seems like an obvious statement, but making it may help us understand how to become better readers of these stories. Instead of viewing them only as historical records of what happened in Jesus’ life and ministry, we should treat them more for what they are; stories written for the purpose of communicating to their audiences how to live as disciples of Jesus.

Lent Reflection: Is the Church an Inclusive Place of Prayer for All?

2010-03-11T10:59:00.002-06:00

Mark’s portrayal of Jesus and his disciples heading toward Jerusalem is both an important literary device and a theologically rich motif for the plot of the narrative. But the question we should ask is: Why were Jesus and his disciples headed to Jerusalem? The answer highlights once again the theme that Jesus and his disciples were working at cross-purposes.Of course, the exchange between Jesus

Lent Reflection: Jesus’ kingly glory comes not in thrones of power, but in the cross of suffering.

2010-03-04T15:44:00.001-06:00

As I have mention in my two previous Lent Reflections, one of the dominant themes in the Gospel of Mark is the journey that Jesus and his disciples travel along the road to Jerusalem, the holy city of David. With each chapter and verse of the story, we are observers as Jesus and his band of disciples move further down the road with Jerusalem coming closer into view. Indeed, in Mark 10:33, Jesus

Lent Reflection: Mountain Top Experiences Must Lead Us Back to Real World Ministry

2010-02-25T10:45:00.002-06:00

Have you ever been somewhere and not wanted to leave? Maybe you were asleep, and you did not want to get up. Maybe you have been at a party with friends, and you did not want to leave. Or maybe you were on vacation, and you did not want to return to work. We all have been in places and situations in which we would have loved to have stayed.Why is this? It is probably because being in those

Lent Reflection: “Who do You Say that I am?”

2010-02-18T11:24:00.000-06:00

We all know that in the English language words that are spelled the same or sound the same can have various meanings. For example, the word spring has three different meanings. A spring can be a source of water, a thing inside of a bed mattress, or a season of the year. If you were to use one of these words, I would need to know exactly how you were using it in order to understand what you

We can Hope in God’s Good Providence Despite Suffering

2010-02-11T12:14:00.000-06:00

Anyone who is even slightly observant about the happenings in our world must draw the conclusion that there is indeed great suffering across God’s creation. From the abject poverty millions face each day, to the wars that continue to rage, to the natural disasters that wreak havoc on our world, we witness many problems in our world that call us to question God’s providence. Of course, in more

The Motives Behind Robertson’s Theological Lunacy

2010-01-15T14:29:00.002-06:00

As many know by now, Pat Robertson, televangelist and aging leader of the 700 Club, has once again spoken from his ignorance about an appalling tragedy; this time inferring that the earthquake that hit Haiti was God’s judgment for Haiti’s past pact with the devil (Robertson's Comments). You will recall that both he and Jerry Falwell came out after the events of September 11, 2001 proclaiming

What does the Lord Require for the New Year?

2010-01-07T10:14:00.001-06:00

I have never been one to make serious resolutions for each New Year. Moreover, since 2010 is now a week old, I would probably be considered a little late in making any resolutions at this point. I am not opposed to making such resolutions, and I am certainly not cynical about those who make them and seriously try to keep them; I have just never really felt the need to make them. Yet, as we

Singing Mary’s Revolutionary Song

2009-12-21T14:46:00.000-06:00

The Nativity is a longstanding symbol of the Advent and Christmas Seasons depicting the holy family gathered together on that blessed night. As we view the scene of the Nativity, our attention is of course drawn to Jesus. Yet, we cannot help but give some attention to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and ponder what thoughts were in her mind that night. Although Mary is a central figure in Christian

The Incarnation of God Redefines Our Human Existence

2009-12-17T12:17:00.001-06:00

The season of Advent is almost over, and the anticipated arrival of Christ, which we celebrate at Christmas, is coming. For centuries, Christians have celebrated this blessed event as the time in which God chose to be with humanity; “Emmanuel, God with us.” Yet, for centuries Christians have continually reflected on this event, returning to that story to rediscover what it means to say that God

The Greed that Steals Christmas

2009-12-03T11:33:00.003-06:00

The Christmas Season is once again upon us and that means that we will again have the annual chance to view some of the old-time favorite holiday specials on TV. Whether one prefers “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” or “The Year without a Santa Claus,” these and other programs have become yearly symbols of the season.Yet, perhaps the most famous of these programs is

Beware of the False Prophets of End-Time Delusions

2009-11-19T12:10:00.000-06:00

I thought Hal Lindsey was dead, but I discovered he is quite alive when I ran into him on TV the other night. But not only is he very much alive, the end-times prophecy that forms the basis of his theological and political perspective on the world is also very much alive. While Lindsey is a senior figure of this movement, perhaps the most prolific prophet of end-time theology is John Hagee.

The Transformative Power of Forgiveness

2009-11-12T11:28:00.002-06:00

Each Sunday Christians across the world recite in communal worship the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Yet, like many of the recitations we memorize and repeat, especially those that proclaim what we believe, reciting the Lord’s Prayer can become a somewhat inattentive practice. This does not mean that we should end this important part of worship. Rather, it means that we must become more

What does it Really Mean to Love Our Enemies?

2009-11-05T12:02:00.000-06:00

Perhaps one of the most troubling and ignored commands of Jesus is the order to love our enemies. Spoken in the same context as Jesus’ recognition that we are called to love our neighbors, i.e. those easier to love, Jesus’ command to love our enemies must find equal authority in our lives if we seek to be faithful followers. Indeed, in the context of Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus reverses an original

Jesus’ Life Offers a Model of Contentment

2009-10-29T10:12:00.000-05:00

We live in a restless and discontented age. Each day we are confronted with problems and circumstances that test our peace and contentment. We worry about financial problems, health problems, and family problems. We are anxious about raising our children, succeeding at work, and maintaining a certain standard of living. Moreover, the pace of our daily lives, the demands of nanosecond technology

What Would My Perfect Church Look Like?

2009-10-22T10:48:00.002-05:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I do not attend church every Sunday. In fact, there are many Sundays when I find greater respite and spiritual renewal as I sip on a cup of coffee and think about life, God, and our place in this world. I know, I know, this is not the ideal situation for a believer, for we are certainly given commands to gather for worship with God’s people on the Lord’s Day.It’s

Jesus without Borders

2009-10-08T12:56:00.001-05:00