A Gentle Subversion
I took this picture on our trip to Ephesus a few years ago. Since then it has made the regular rotation for my desktop image, I’ve even talked about on this blog before. I’ve found myself somewhat haunted by it. And here’s why. This is an underground first or second century symbol. It stands for Ixthus Christos Theos (all the first letters of this phrase in Greek make this symbol. The phrase me

Thus Saith the Lord
This weekend I went with a friend to Abilene, making a trip that I have made a hundred times over the past few years. It’s not the best drive. Between the town of Ranger’s cops, and the constant construction, I-20W can wear you down. But the thing that has consistently gotten on my nerves are the billboards. Chances are you’ve seen these on the side of the interstate before. Sometimes they’re s

Amen
Sometime last year I read Elie Wiesel’s autobiography about the first five decades of his life. It was a great read by one of the best Theological thinkers of our time. Wiesel is a theological poet, who has the ability to inspire awe and tears like no other writer, mostly because he has lived his share of both. A recurring theme of Wiesel’s story telling is the Jewish prayer the Kaddish. It’s a prayer they would say for a host of different reasons, but it mainly became known as a prayer for mourning (which is why Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, mentions it so often). But in Jesus’ day it was known as a prayer Rabbi’s would say often, many times as they ope

Wheel of Fortune
There is a dangerous theology that is quite popular right now. It basically says that if you give to God than God will give more back to you. This way of thinking about God can reduce him into that cosmic E-trade in the sky. This theology tends to be preached by people who are asking you to give to their particular ministry/church/program so that you can be rewarded by God. This idea has been around since Job’s friend. It’s called the Health and Wealth Gospel, and it couldn’t be more dangerous. But the reason it is dangerous is because is partially true. Before you start to think that I am drinking the Olsteen Kool-aid let me clarify what I mea

Misc. Happenings and Resurrection
So last week was a hectic pace of being filled and having fun. Rick took about 10 young preachers to a preacher’s retreat with Bob Russell in Louisville. It was a fun time of being with some peers, learning really practical ministry advice from Bob and Rick, touring the Louisville bat factory (it had some ministry application) and bowling (not so much ministry application). Then a few of us went to a Preacher’s conference at Lipscomb University, which is fast becoming one of my favorite Christian colleges