faithrunner

There is a (very long) blog in the Dallas Morning News that asked several theologians if we need a "Steve Jobs of Religion".  This question is based upon a NYT article titled "Americans Undecided about God?" by Eric Weiner who is a self proclaimed "None" (people who chose None under Religious affiliations when surveyed). Weiner writes: "We need a Steve Jobs of religion. Someone (or ones) who can invent not a new religion but, rather, a new way of being religious. Like Mr. Jobs's creations, this new way would be straightforward and unencumbered and absolutely intuitive. Most important, it would be highly interactive. I imagine a religious space that celebrates doubt, encourages experimentation and allows one to utter the word God without embarrassment. A religious operating system for the Nones among us. And for all of us ." Cynthia Rigby , W. C. Brown Professor of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, suggests...

Baptism is the ancient, Christ-modeled act of associating with the person and movement of Jesus, who is the Christ. For centuries follower-apprentices of Jesus have been baptized before friends and family to witness their allegiance to Jesus as their Rescuer and Leader . From the Ethiopian eunuch to the Philippian jailer, God's people have baptized those who trusted Jesus wherever there was water and witnesses . Over time, that practice was brought inside buildings with baptismal fonts and pools built into the architecture and leadership limited to credentialed, professional clergy . We know, however, that in oppressed countries Christ followers have found bathtubs, streams, and drinking troughs for animals suitable for the rite. I still witness this act in streams, homes, and lakes around the world today. But, here we usually stick to the indoor, ordained clergy rendition of the act. I love Legacy Church because several years ago we released followers of Jesus to baptize...

I had dinner a couple of months ago with some friends to compare notes on our Mt Rainier climbs . In the middle of our conversation the most experienced climber said, "I just like to walk." I'm not sure why, but that remark sank deep into my psyche. On the way home I thought, "I like to walk too" so why do I only walk/hike/run when I go somewhere? Why do I change into special clothes to do what I like to do? I walk when I am in China, Lao, Vietnam, and when I travel. What's different at home? Walking was what I thought I'd do when I could no longer run. I left that dinner committed to walk when I could. That was in October. Since then I have made the 7-mile round trip to my office half a dozen times, the 2-mile round trip to one of my weekly small groups 3 times, and several shorter walks from the office and home to meetings at nearby Starbucks. I'm learning to walk again , which is a challenge at times in a culture that demands speed and a su...

Hanukkah Menorah Jesus was a Jew, and he most likely observed Hanukkah. Shocked? From what we know about Jesus' parents from the stories about his birth and infancy, they were pious, practicing members of Israel. And, as their earthly son, Jesus was raised a pious Son of Israel . Here are some examples. Eight days into his life his parents had him circumcised and named according to the Jewish Law. ( Luke 2:21 ; Leviticus 12:3 ) Forty days after his birth, his mother and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to complete God's instructions for purification and presentation of a male son to God . ( Luke 2:22-24 ; Leviticus 12 ) Luke also tells us that the family made the annual trip to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover . ( Luke 2:41 ; Exodus 12 ; which we know mostly by the Seder .) What was unique about Jesus' early life were the people's unsolicited confession as to who he was. (Read Luke 2:22-52 to read some of those.) In the middle of his parent's faithful...

RG III My wife and I are Baylor Bears . ('75) My youngest daughter, her husband, and my oldest daughter's husband are Bears. (My oldest daughter is an Aggie, of whom we are equally proud.) The buzz in Baylor world -- as you know unless you have been hiking in the Himalayas the last three months -- is that the Baylor quarterback, Robert Griffin III was chosen as the 77th Heisman Trophy winner . You can only imagine how excited we are as a family and alumni of BU. A small, private Baptist school in Central Texas usually lives under the shadow of schools like the University of Texas and seldom gets any national recognition. Waco is mostly known nationally for the Branch Davidian debacle , and most sports commentators can't pronounce the school's name like we do. Oh well, they are learning now. I am pleased RG III received the most votes for the coveted trophy , not because I want to be associated with it and him, but because he and his family clearly give God credi...

Advent is the season set apart to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. We look back at his first coming ( Luke 2 ), and we look forward to his second coming . ( Revelation 19:11-18 ) It is to be a sacred season in which we daily spend time with the Spirit and Word and the community of faith to see the hand of God in history to bring about the birth of incarnate God and the return as the risen, triumphant King . But who has time for all that? Our culture has swallowed up the intent of this season and has seduced us to buy stuff and go into debt to give things people don't want to people we don't like--and those we do. And, we have gladly said yes to the "little g" god, consumerism. Check out my friend, Jim Denison's blog , " What did Jesus think of Black Friday ." The numbers and stories will stagger you. (You will want to subscribe to his daily email, too. It's good stuff.) He has pointed out the absurdity of our action...

If you have followed this blog for long, you know that Legacy Church hosts an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the students and their families connected to Legacy's English Language Program . Every year God reveals to us again a peek at heaven recorded in Revelation 7:9-10 : "After this I looked, and there in front of me was a huge crowd of people. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. There were so many that no one could count them. They came from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were wearing white robes. In their hands they were holding palm branches. They cried out in a loud voice,    'Salvation belongs to our God,    who sits on the throne.    Salvation also belongs to the Lamb.'" (NIRV; italics mine) (I had concluded The Story that Sunday morning by teaching on The End! You can hear that message here . It was wonderful to get a glimpse of what we had seen in Scripture that morning the same eveni...