Happy Friday! I have a few funny / interesting videos to share with you… and something free to give away.
1. FREE BOOK.
If you like winning, just write something in the comment section below to enter your name in the drawing for a brand-new, signed book by yours truly.
1. VIDEO—Human Balloon.
Listening to and watching the laughing friend in this video is funnier than… Read More
I have a confession to make: I don’t like “Christian” movies. I mean the ones that are trying to sell tickets en masse to the Christian population. There are many wonderful films with storylines that portray the Gospel (films like Selma and Calvary), but aren’t wearing the “Christian” label or marketing to the Christian audience.
So, can we speak honestly about “Christian” movies?
They’re overwhelmingly terrible. Lacking in beauty and imagination. Hard to describe as art.
Check out this list of 2014 “Christian” movies with their Rotten… Read More
I wrote a book, which is coming out this month. The following is an excerpt…
Recently, while spending a month living in the Italian countryside, I was constantly aware of how much we stood out.
Our strangeness was completely obvious to the locals…
All three of us have blue eyes and pale skin.
We talk like cowboys. I never thought I sounded like a cowboy before, but after hearing an Italian say… Read More
Have you ever seen a large ship – like a cruise ship – use its propulsion jets to turn around in the relatively shallow waters of a port? The force of water blasting through the jets stirs up everything…
And what was once beautiful, crystal-clear, blue ocean water now becomes murky-brown, as if someone had turned water into a fishy-smelling pumpkin spice latte.
That’s what the comment section of YouTube does too. Blasting. Stirring up. Leaving behind murky-brown, fishy-smelling nastiness. People will say things online that they would never say to someone’s face – certainly not to someone they have a relationship with and actually care about.
Christians do this too. Facebook and other streams of social media have become… Read More
*note: The picture above was taken through the window of my room at the Los Angeles Dream Center from our recent trip with a crew from NWLife – serving for a week there.
I’m so ready for 2015.
This year—while it wasn’t all bad—certainly had more than it’s fair share of bad news. I’ve felt like 2014 has refused to go out quietly or peacefully. It all reminds me of the opening lines from Jesus Walks by Kanye West…
Yo, we at war. We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves.
As I reflect on 2014, I’m struck by a number of things that left their mark on me. So here they are: 14 Good & Bad Stains 2014 Left On Me… Read More
I want to be myself, but different. Ya know what I mean?
There are some things I want to improve, change, edit.
But in terms of my main focus this new year, I want to be… Read More
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I used to believe it was OK to have enemies.
Because Jesus said to love them, bless them, pray for them… I kinda took it as permission to collect ‘em.
Like Jesus was saying, “It’s OK to call people or groups of people your enemies.”
But I don’t believe that anymore. I don’t believe it’s OK to collect or have enemies.
Here’s what I mean… Read More
I will give you treasures, hidden in the darkness. —Isaiah 45.3
I recently preached a sermon entitled, “Finding God in the Dark.” I was attempting to describe those times of uncertainty or transition where things aren’t the way they used to be and our hearts cry out, “God, where are you in all of this?”
The term “Dark Night of the Soul” is borrowed from 16th century Spanish poet St. John of the Cross – and is often used to describe a crisis of faith.
In these times, the familiar lamp posts that previously illuminated our lives are no longer there, so we must learn to walk in the dark.
Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a book called “Learning to Walk in the Dark.” I loved it. Here are some quotes:
“New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.”
“There is a light that shines in the darkness, which is only visible there.”
“During the day it is hard to remember that all the stars in the sky are out there all the time, even when I am too blinded by the sun to see them”
I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light…
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Below are two different stories of individuals learning to walk in the dark. I think they’re worth… Read More
*note: image above – Introduced on July 31, 1968, Franklin was the first African American to be included in the Peanuts comic strip. I don’t know why he’s all alone on that side of the table, but I’m glad he was invited.
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Last week, I received a letter from my national church leadership asking me and all the other pastors of our 12,792 churches in the U.S. to observe #BlackLivesMatter Sunday (you can read that letter here). The request was to acknowledge the day and pray. So I did that.
I’ve been surprised at the amount of pushback I’ve received. Some of it has been thoughtful and kind and caring. Some of it has been harsh and judgmental. Quite honestly, in 22 years of full-time ministry, I’ve never ruffled this many feathers.
Ruffling feathers isn’t something I live for. I don’t get energized by offending people.
Right now I’m in the process of listening and evaluating. I’m hearing what people are saying. I’m searching my heart for… Read More
*note: image above – harassment during a civil rights sit-in at the Cherrydale Drug Fair in Arlington, VA June 10, 1960.
On Sunday at NWLife Church, we stood in solidarity with our brothers and sisters – declaring #BlackLivesMatter.
We prayed for justice and reconciliation and healing and comfort. We mourned the loss of life. We affirmed that all black lives matter.
This wasn’t the first time we’ve prayed for the black community. Recognizing #BlackLivesMatter on Sunday, December 14 was done at the prompting of the National leadership of the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ (our heritage is with these movements).
I know this makes some folks uncomfortable. I know because I have received feedback. Of course, I don’t have the oratory chops of Bishop… Read More
