In conversations I often find supposed "Christians" playing with the notion that there are other paths to God. Or, at least, He will accept us if we try really hard. Isn’t God gracious and forgiving? Doesn’t God believe in us? As if Christ came to set an example, and nothing more. He gave His life away for others, and that pleased God. So we need to serve others too. Do what Jesus would do. The problem with such reasoning is three-fold (at least): First, it makes Jesus merely a good person Second, it rests on the notion that we are good people too Third, it makes Jesus sacrifice...

As an opinionated chap with, well, a lot of opinions and things to say, I am getting better at holding them and not overstating my case. Listening. More listening. Reflecting back on what others say. (Getting better, but I haven’t arrived!) Yesterday, however, I sensed God’s Spirit telling me to shut up a couple times when I apparently thought what I had to say was important. (James 2:19) Thankful for our gracious church leaders and staff, and my wordiness weakness can be overlooked because of God’s grace displayed through one another. People are more important than what I have...

I may be the only man ever to receive for a wedding present from his new bride the complete works of Henry Scougal. I read the book on our honeymoon, and have been greatly impacted by the short earthly life and long-lasting passion of this godly man. The Scottish Scougal (1650-1678) (whom I’ve mentioned before) died of tuberculosis at 28 years old, yet his enduring legacy through from his most well-known book: The Life of God in the Soul of Man. The book is a description of Christianity to a friend with additional spiritual counsel for daily life. The title alone — that God’s...

Our church begins a new series in Colossians this weekend. We’re calling it "The Source ." As in Jesus is the source of everything. The whole letter of Colossians shouts forth descriptions of His infinite worth. All things are from and through and by Him. Indeed, all things exist for Him. (Col. 1:15-17) He is of course, the source of time, though He lives outside it. He did step into our world, the fulness of God dwelling in bodily form (Col. 1:19). Which got me thinking about the New Year, and how this one-second holiday leads to 31,535,999 more seconds full of opportunity after...

In sports, rhythm and flow are as important as strategy. There are basketball games where there is little floor spacing, teammates are not communicating well, or worse, not anticipating one another’s moves, and the ball seems to bounce out of rhythm. And there are other times when it seems like one team is dancing around the court to the tune of a hidden song. Athletes call this being "in the zone." This invisible rhythm is made visible through the consistent and dynamic movements of the players. (For example, our beloved Blazers beat the defending champs, the Celtics , tonight.) So...

Paradoxes are great things to explore. They are not contradictions, for their connection and equity simply are beyond our finite understanding. Like when the "peace of God, which surpasses understanding , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" ( Phil. 4:7 ). How can we experience this peace, yet not understand it? Our knowledge is according to experiencing it, that’s how. Recently I wrote a paper, and the professor especially liked one section I wrote: "… two things become apparent to me. One, God does not use lazy people. And two, those who are greatly used...

Well, not exactly. Those who know me know that I won’t be dispensing much "how-to" advice here.That is because God’s work cannot be completely reduplicated by the best available means possible. Yet, on the other hand, as a consummate learner and question-asker, I am always seeking to know why churches and leaders are successful, and how we can measure it. Now that I have your attention … (Scroll down at least to the links near the end, an interview worth checking out. The rest of this post is winding a bit.) What I mean is that in ten days I will be finished with this...

I want to celebrate those who get "it." What’s the "it?" It is the Gospel. It is the lens through which we are to see, and the engine for what should drive us in life. We are far worse than we realize, yet, in Christ, far more loved than we every imagined. God relates to us totally on the basis of His free grace. We cannot earn, should not deceive ourselves into thinking we could or should, and God has designed that we can only relate to Him rightly on the basis of the finished work of His Son. He treated Jesus like He was us, so He could treat us who trust in Christ like...

Perhaps we are so familiar with John 3:16 that we lose the gravity of the serious joy Jesus communicates to us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That’s shorthand for the Gospel. Before Christ rescued me, I did not even know who John was, what the 3 meant, and especially why there was a colon before 16. When my eyes went open to see the light of the glory of Christ who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4-6 ), this truth became the deep end in which I have swam for twelve years now. The more I...

Some of us do speak of to/about God and people in the exact same way, making our communication with God (or lack thereof) truly profane. That is, we take something sacred and precious and make it common , just like everything else. There is a startling paradox to ponder in James 3:5-12 : "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature,...