What happens when “like” becomes an obsession (idol)? The culture in which we exist is one increasingly built on being liked. It’s natural: We want to feel accepted; we’re made to be accepted; we’re made to accept each other. However, what happens when that’s all that we care about? Is it possible for us to gain acceptance […]
Read more "The Gospel According to “Like”"When Mary, the mother of Jesus, realizes more fully what child this is that she bears, she can’t help but lift up a redemption song from her low place. She sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord…” For Luke, when he thought about Mary’s song and other events around Jesus’ life, something became clear to him. Crystal clear. […]
Read more "Redemption Song: Magnify"The angel of the Lord says to Mary, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you.” How do we make sense of that? How do we make sense of it when we consider what Mary’s life may have actually looked like? Mary didn’t look like she was favored. It probably looked like she was given […]
Read more "Redemption Song: Favored One"Where does Christmas begin? Centuries and centuries ago, God’s people were asking, “Where’s God? Where’s God going to show up?” Some people thought God would show up in politics. Others thought the military. Others thought the temple. A wild prophet by the name of John the Baptist thought otherwise, and he was right: God shows up […]
Read more "Redemption Song: Wilderness"My wife ordered checks this past week. You know, the perforated paper ones that come in a book. I hear they were super hip some time ago. We had just finished this series called Treasure based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I mean, It was […]
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