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At this point, I’d like to offer two things to help us reengage with the Scriptures and Jesus’ teaching so that as we do, we might recognize where Middle Platonism and Early Christian Gnosticism has made inroads into our own faith, including our views on the atonement, and then allow this new learning to helpRead more

What if I was to tell you that many of the most popular atonement theories developed over the last two-thousand years of church history (especially those following the third century AD/CE), have been deeply influenced by a storyline that is foreign to the pages of the Bible? We might say that the real Story ofRead more

It’s back!!! Nearly a year ago, I introduced a new series titled FaithRethink. In it, I invited us to recognize that faith in Jesus and following Jesus involves and invites an ever expanding and deepening journey that involves ongoing changes. Sometimes those changes involve acknowledging our preconceived assumptions and ways we think about and viewRead more

The Secret What if Jesus and his message are far better than we currently realize? And what if so much of what gets passed on as the truth about Jesus and his message is actually a watered down version of it (at best) or a complete perversion of it (at worst)? And what if oneRead more

In light of the violent riot at the US Capital on January 6, 2021 and those who lost their lives, I offer this prayer.   Pray with me: God of creation, Our nation is in crisis. We are more polarized than ever. Neighbor is suspicious of neighbor. Hatred, aggression and violence have escalated. Even thoseRead more

If you had the opportunity to sit down and ask Jesus what his political views are, what do you think he’d say? Since the 1st century, Christians from around the world have interpreted Jesus’ life and teaching differently, sometimes very differently. In fact, Christians have even gone to wars over these differences–consider Catholic and ProtestantRead more

Jesus’ critics You would think that someone like Jesus–whose life and work has literally impacted hundreds of billions of people throughout world history–would have been welcomed with open arms during his own day from every sector and corner of life. The reality is, while a great many did embrace him, there were plenty who didRead more

One for the history books To say that this season in world history has been one for the history books is an understatement. Although our world was facing deeply complex and challenging events before we entered 2020, nothing could have prepared us (or at least for many of us) for what has occurred within theRead more

Jesus’ life and death is not an escape route out of this world, but an invitation into a whole new way of life in this world. Yesterday I posted a section titled “The self-made project” from chapter four of my book proposing that a meaningful life with meaningful relationships will not happen when much ofRead more