Posts from April 2014

Posts from April 2014

No Little People—Jesus’ Redeeming the Value of Children

This Sunday marks the annual Christmas play by the children and youth of Forest Home.  It is a time when those smaller in stature have a chance to shine light on the kingdom of God for those older.  Well Jesus did say, “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke 18:16).   So we gladly learn from what they say, how they say it, and their manner of “flocking to Jesus.”  Our children are precious.  They naturally help…

A Tribute to C.S. Lewis

The continuing popularity of C.S. Lewis (1889 – 1963) would have surprised no one more than Lewis himself. This past Friday marked the 50th anniversary of Lewis’ death, which saw many gather to celebrate Lewis’ newly carved memorial in stone at the poet’s corner of Westminster Abbey in London. Anyone who takes a little time to read Lewis knows why he is rightly honored among such greats as Dickens, Wordsworth, Keats, and Shakespeare.  Most who read one of Lewis’ books,…

Those Scripture Readings in Church: Where do they come From? 

The Apostle Paul advised his mission team minister Timothy, who served the church in Ephesus, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13). FH church continues the apostolic and ancient church practice of public reading of Scripture as a spiritual discipline each Sunday. In it we hear the words that are our story, our true story, and we learn to listen for what the Lord is saying to each of us and to FH…

Detailed Study on School Bullying Yields “Surprising” Results

What follows is a news report on school bullying that made the TV news in Dallas a few weeks ago. School bullying may be defined as physical and/or emotional harm inflicted within the boundaries of a school ground and taking a form ranging from teasing, taunting, hitting, kicking or taking/destroying others’ belongings. Approximately 1.5 million from ages 12 to 18 report having been victimized by violence while at school. The most up to date, professional, and comprehensive study of bullying…

Cheap Grace versus Costly Grace

Christians and churches have struggled for centuries over how to live out being “not under law but under grace.” Grace is among the most comforting, wonderful and inspiring words of the Bible. Yet like all good things, even grace can be perverted and subverted. Sooner or later, every church and every Christian will come to a place where a decision has to be made for either Cheap Grace or Costly Grace. Perhaps no one has expressed this fork in the…

Imitating Our Leaders in Social Activism

Every church and time has those passages of Scripture which seem to fade into the background of our daily walk as we give needed attention to particular and pressing concerns. May I suggest that one such Scripture is Hebrews 13:7. Chapter 13 ends the book of Hebrews in a crescendo of powerful insights including how the Lord will (no not and) never leave or abandon us (13:5), and its closing benediction: “Now may the God of peace who by the…

Why Read Old Books (even on Kindle)?

        Not too many years ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that I read old books. That may sound strange, but I was truly a “modern” with such a faith in progress that only the latest and greatest book would do. Now to be sure, knowledge and life does know a progression of sorts. But over time (like for 15 years), my motto was “the newer the truer,” and it was failing me.   I was discovering that…

“Christians to the back of the bus (and be quiet)”

I remember not long ago when it was possible to teach the Bible on most any number of moral faith issues and not be considered in the least political. Times have changed, and by that I mean this: Teaching the same Biblical, moral guidelines I would have taught 30 years ago, now brings an almost instinctive reaction that I am being political. And somehow, in spite of the bible’s prophetic tradition (and Jesus was a prophet), this is supposedly off limits.…
  • 1
  • 2