And God said, “Let there be Dark”

At 9am on a bright Friday morning Roman soldiers crucified Jesus like they’d done a thousand other derelicts (Mk 15.25). They drove spikes through his wrists. Maybe they toenailed his hands. They drove spikes through his heels on either side of the cross. They shot dice for his clothes. Souvenirs of a man hung there like a carnival sideshow. Another day at the office. The execution was textbook until noon. […]

The With Us God

Joseph returned home from a busy day at the shop. He smelled like cedar with a hint of balsam. Sons of David deserved a table fit for kings. Mary would love it. He could hardly wait to enjoy their first meal around it as a family. Then the unthinkable happened. Joseph hadn’t seen Mary in three months. She had gone to visit her older cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with […]

Hang In There Because Jesus Hung There

“[Job] was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil”(Job 1.1) . . . “the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the LORD” (1.21) . . . “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (2.10) Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God (1.22). “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am […]

Juneteenth in Graceland

Today is Juneteenth (a.k.a. June 19th). Texas introduced me to Juneteenth during a pastoral stretch in the Republic.  I am thankful to reflect on its significance today especially living in one of the more racist regions of the country.  A region that has done its fair share of infecting my own heart as well. Abraham Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.  He ordered the freedom of all […]

The Masculine Gospel: All Girls Allowed

“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal 4.7). The gospel of Jesus Christ is decidedly masculine but it is neither discriminatory nor chauvinist.  In fact, the glory of the gospel is wrapped up in its masculinity rightly understood.  Given the context of Scripture and the people among which the gospel spread, we want a masculine gospel. God […]

10 Reasons You’re Not Getting a Heavenly Mansion

mansion in heaven

Did Jesus promise to build each of his followers a mansion for their eternal enjoyment?  After all, Jesus is God and was a carpenter.  Our God also builds houses?  He must be able to build us the best mansions the universe has ever seen.  We all have our dream home.  What could be better than having God design a city whose golden streets are lined with dream homes Jesus built […]

God Declared Forgiveness Before He Declared War

Zacharias was an old man (Lk 1.7).  A really old man (Lk 1.18).  His wife was also, shall he say, “advanced in years.”  (That’s a good lesson for godly husbands.  We may get old but our wives only “advance in years.”) Having a child at their age was biologically impossible.  We could excuse Zacharias for being skeptical.  But, God didn’t.  Gabriel muted him for nine-plus months (Lk 1.20). Zacharias had […]

Violent Night, Holy Night: The War on Christmas is Already Won

“. . . and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.  And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne” (Rev 12.4-5). For nearly 200 years we have loved the […]

Jesus is Not Color Blind

  White cops, Dead black men. Black snipers, Dead white cops.   White, black, brown, or olive, Cain by any other name is still Cain (Gen 4.1-8).  A spear.  Brother-killer.  The antithesis of God’s son (1 Jn 3.11-12).  The spirit of antichrist that is already in the world (1 Jn 4.3). Most white cops don’t shoot black men.  Most black men don’t snipe cops. Nevertheless, we exchanged God’s world of […]

The Faith That Saves (Part 2)

(Re)read Part 1. Imagine walking on railroad tracks with a friend. You see a faint light growing larger and conclude a train barrels toward you.  You and your friend begin to argue about what sort of train it is.  You’re sure it’s a coal train from Pittsburgh.  Your friend insists its a passenger train from Chicago.  You argue your experiences with trains makes you a better trainspotter.  He argues he has read everything about […]