Tears in Heaven…

Someone asked me the other day what I thought it looked like to "live missionally"...a very good question. There is an amazing metaphor in the ancient songs of the people of God that sheds light on the tensions of living in this world today! Psalm 137 starts with the verse: By the rivers of Babylon …

The Church “Blanket”

I grew up watching and reading Peanuts...religiously (pun intended). I can't tell you which character was my favorite, but Linus has to be right up there in the top three. Linus, as you probably remember, carried around this blanket as a soother and symbol of security and safety. This is the icon of many kids …

The Church Movie Theater

I love going to the movie theater! There is perhaps not another escape from the realities of a stress-filled life that soothes my soul more than inserting myself in someone else’s story. Think about it. We get to sit in a comfortable chair, facing a life-size screen, and we are invited into the stories of …

small is BIG…less is MORE

So what now? Christmas is over, the tree comes down, the decorations go back in the box, the lights come off the house, life goes back to normal? For many the climax of Christmas leaves them wanting. There is a buildup to the big morning where gift wrapping paper is thrown all over the living …

Christ Followers or Football Players?

I read that in the NFL, most teams will prepare upwards of 50 hrs a week in training, planning, practicing, and meeting for a Sunday game, which runs on average 3 hours, 12 minutes. Of course, a football team is completely geared toward that one 3 hour block of time when they go head to …

Why “Works Theology” Matters…

The title of this blog may have enticed you to click on it and read what kind of heresy I must be spreading. In evangelical circles, "Works theology" is a catch phrase for gaining your salvation through the things you do, instead of through faith in Christ alone. Let me assure you now I am …

When It Snows on Idols

I love living in Colorado! My favorite mornings are waking up to an unexpected snowfall when I go out on our glassed porch to read and write. Today, this is one of those mornings. It snowed last night up here on Palmer Divide, and my back yard, the neighbor's yards and all the way to …

A Better “Great Commission”

There may be a better Great Commission in scripture...

Going the Second Mile…or, Carrying A Pack Makes You Sweat

My friend Thomas Thompson, Lead Pastor of Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado Springs, recently gave a message called "The Second Mile" (watch it here). As I listened to Thomas' crafted presentation of Matthew 5, it occurred to me how symbolic verse 41 is of current missional church efforts. As many of us attempt to take …

Of Giants and Grapes…

It is a belief of mine that people will never move as a community to a place where stories can't be told. People are adverse to theory, they want eyewitness experiences in order to adopt a vision or mission. We can proof-text from scripture all day long...we can show the biblical reasons for doing something...we …