• Exodus 28 What (Not) To Wear

    Who cares how we dress? Does God? Why does it matter? What does He want to accomplish? How should a priest look, anyway? “Read More” to pursue answers.

  • Exodus 26-27 It’s Curtains For You

    Questions: Why spend so much time on curtains? Does God love engineering? Does physical reality really matter? “Read More” to pursue answers.

  • Exodus 25 Realtors of the Lost Ark

    Questions: Where is God? Why does He want a place of His own? What is our role in providing that? “Read More” to pursue answers.

  • Exodus 24 Buying In To Covenant

    Questions: What is the basis of covenant? What fealty do we owe God? How is that manifested? “Read More” to pursue answers.

  • How People Grow

    How People Grow

    A friend of mine sent me these links a long time ago, and I finally got motivated to blog about them while reading How People Grow. He said: * “Cloud and Townsend have a triploid for spiritual growth: truth, grace and time. I think they have a good grasp of…

  • Transformationally Born Again

    To be transformationally Born Again is to exchange the character, beliefs, and perceptions we acquired from our family, culture & choices for the Image of Christ through experiencing the nature of God the Father and nurture of God the Spirit [Read More] for the backstory

  • Transformational Worship Pastoring

    A holistic worship pastor is one who pastors worship * of and to the whole God * in and by the whole congregation * with our whole heart * through our whole lives [Read More] for the backstory.

  • Hatred of Sin by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (and George Lucas)

    Today’s devotional immediately made me think of Sean Smith‘s message at our men’s retreat last month. Be ye angry, and sin not.” There can hardly be goodness in a man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. It was the first…

  • Star Wars, Episode VII: Redeeming the Force

    I just got back from seeing Return of the Sith with Sandhya and my parents (who are visiting from Illinois), and I found myself enraged. Not by Lucas: the film had its flaws, but overall I enjoyed it. Not by Palpitane, though I found his twisted shaming of the boy…

  • Exodus 23 Just Relationships — or Community?

    Questions: What is the nature of just relationships? How is that like raising teenagers? “Read More” to pursue answers

  • Not Our Burden by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

    As I’ve done occasionally before, today’s devotional is built around around Spurgeon’s “Morning & Evening”, which I receive via email. Though nominally about anxiety, it mostly reminded me of Cloud & Townsend’s contention that the Christian life (and psychological health) depend up learning to rely upon God as our head…

  • Exodus 22 Property Wrongs

    Questions: What is the basis of civil law? Why does personal morality matter? How much do I owe God? Click [Read More] to pursue answers.

  • Day 40: We’re Created to Worship Together – By Celebrating Together

    Point to Ponder: Every time I celebrate God with others, I’m practicing for heaven. Verse to Remember: “I will celebrate and be joyful because you, Lord, have saved me.” — Psalm 35:9 (CEV) Question to Consider: When you worship, are you more concerned about what others think or what God…

  • Day 39: We’re Created to Worship Together – By Giving Our Offerings Together

    Point to Ponder: Giving back to God is the heart of worship Verse to Remember: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 (NIV) Question to Consider: What does my giving say about the direction and question of my heart? [Read More] thoughts on…

  • Day 38: We’re Created to Worship Together – By Praying Together

    Point to Ponder: As your group prayers together, your faith will be strengthened, and God’s power will be unleashed. Verse to Remember: “They all met together continually for prayer…” — Acts 1:14 (NLT) Question to Consider: How high a priority is prayer in your group life? [Read More] thoughts on…

  • Day 37: We’re Created to Worship Together — By Preparing for Worship

    Point to Ponder: When we worship with an unprepared heart, we sin. Verse to Remember: “Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure.” — Psalm 24:3-4,6 (NLT) Question to Consider: What can you do to prepare yourself for corporate worship this weekend? [Read…

  • Day 36: We’re Created to Worship Together — By Worshipping Weekly

    Point to Ponder: The Sabbath is a time to “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10, NIV) Verse to Remember: “You have six days when you can do your work, but the seventh day of each week is holy because it belongs to me.” — Leviticus 23:3a (CEV)…

  • Day 35: We’re Called to Serve Together – By Cooperating With Each Other

    Point to Ponder: We are better together Verse to Remember: “We work together as partners who belong to God.” — I Corinthians 3:9a (NLT) Question to Consider: How do your gifts and abilities complement the others in your group? [Read More] thoughts on Day 35 of Rick Warren’s 40 Days…

  • Week 6: Worshiping — We’re Created to Worship Together

    Verse to Remember: “You have six days to do your work, but the seventh day of each week is holy because it belongs to me.” — Leviticus 23:3 (CEV) [Read More] thoughts on weekly Session 6 (the last one) of Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Community, including our special guest…

  • Day 34: We’re Called to Serve Together – By Sacrificing for Each Other

    Point to Ponder: Serious service requires serious sacrifice Verse to Remember: “…we must give our lives for other believers.” — I John 3:16b (GW) Question to Consider: What sacrifice can you make that will enrich the lives of many? [Read More] thoughts on Day 34 of Rick Warren’s 40 Days…