Here are some of my favorite posts since starting this site in April 1997. I’ll be adding some of my favorite “hope&humor” posts here.
A CASE FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY
Some denominations allow women to be ordained and to fill any pastoral and administrative position. Some limit women to children and women’s ministries. And all believe they have biblical arguments for their case.
ACTION-FIGURE JESUS
Most Hollywood portrayals of “Jesus” look like he stepped off the cover of a romance best-seller—blow-dried auburn hair with blonde highlights, immaculately manicured nails, a pure white robe, and of course, heavenly good looks. Nope! Not even close!
ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES?
Do you really want a “tolerant” mechanic at the brake shop? “I don’t like to use the words ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ when it comes to brake shoes. I prefer to think of them having mechanical diversity.”
‘DO NOT JUDGE,’ BUT BE A GOOD JUROR
Only judges can judge, but all to be discerning in recognizing biblical errors.
KEEPING YOUR DREAMS ALIVE
We all have dreams, no matter what age: to be a firefighter, a princess, a parent, a successful businessperson, pastor of a “mega-church,” a retiree in Florida. But somewhere between the womb and the tomb, those dreams die.We all have dreams, no matter what age: to be a firefighter, a princess, a parent, a successful businessperson, pastor of a “mega-church,” a retiree in Florida. But somewhere between the womb and the tomb, those dreams die.
THREE WAYS TO ‘FIND’ GOD’S WILL
It would be great if God was still in the business of talking verbally to his kids. God talked with Adam and Eve in “the cool of the day.” He spoke to Moses from a burning bush and Mount Sinai. He talked directly to His prophets. So, we sometimes feel we’re left in the dark!
WE’RE PRO-CHOICE
Ethics is a personal choice, not a political or religious concern. That’s why we’ve established “Planned Bank Robbery.” Now, we personally don’t approve of bank robbery, but we don’t want to inflict our morals on anyone else either.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY?
With over thirty-one-thousand verses to choose from, you can find a verse to prove your point on almost any subject. So, how do we find the true meaning of God’s Word to us?
WHY? SOME THOUGHTS OF LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS
Excerpt from God, I Don’t Understand: Unanswered Prayer, Unfulfilled Promises, Unpunished Evil. It’s my most transparent book as I’ve struggled with those questions.
YEP, I’M INTOLERANT
Do you want a “tolerant” mechanic at the brake shop? “I don’t like to use the words ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ when it comes to brake shoes. I prefer to think of them having mechanical diversity.”
EASTER
I’M GIVING UP FEAR FOR LENT
I have in my right hand, direct from the home office in Corn Borer, Indiana, The Top Ten Things I (Jim) am giving up for Lent.
IT’S SUNDAY, BUT JESUS IS COMIN’
Tony Campolo’s most famous sermon on Easter is “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Comin.’” But what if it’s Easter and the world is still filled with chaos and corruption?
THEY DON’T MAKE CROSSES LIKE THEY USED TO
Two thousand years ago, the Romans hand-crafted them out of real wood—rugged, solid, durable—stained with natural colors. Awe and respect were felt for the manufacturers of these creations. But not today!
INDEPENDENCE DAY
CELEBRATING ‘DEPENDENCE DAY’
May we acknowledge what our leaders of the past have humbly believed—that we are indeed dependent on God as a nation and as individuals
WERE FOUNDING FATHERS ‘CHRISTIAN’
That’s a complex question! The “revisionist left” would like to make them secular and the “religious right” would like to make them saintly. Let’s take a look at some of the more prominent Founding Fathers’ beliefs . . . in their own words.
HALLOWEEN
SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?
Search Google for “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” and you’ll get about one thousand sites covering everything from “it’s completely harmless” to “it’s completely hellish.” Here’s site number 1,001 that’s somewhere in the middle.
THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS
THE 365 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
No, these aren’t additional verses of that already-too-long song, but an opportunity to experience the love, joy and peace of Christmas throughout the entire year. And in a Leap Year, 365 days!
THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
The three gospel accounts harmonized into one complete story.
HAVE YOURSELF AN INTROVERTED CHRISTMAS
It’s not that we hate Christmas and all the Whos in Whoville. It’s simply that the holiday activities tend to suck us as dry as a year-old fruit cake.
HOW CHRISTMAS SAVED A ‘GRINCH’
K-Mart’s decorations had been up since October, the Sunday school program was history, the Advent candles were burned to stubs, and all the angel hair was finally vacuumed up. But I hadn’t felt any change! Gasp! Had I become a Scrooge at the tender age of 16?!
TOP TEN POLITICALLY-CORRECT HOLIDAY SONGS
At the risk of coming across as The Grinch,” Ebenezer Scrooge, and Henry Potter all gift-wrapped into one big “Humbug,” I’d like to propose putting some P.C. in our Christmas celebration. But before you click BACK, let me change the meaning of P.C. to “Purposeful Concession.”
NEW YEARS
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR
The tabloids are no longer making their outrageous predictions for the New Year. (Perhaps my mocking of their dismal record had something to do with it.) So, let me make some of my own predictions for the coming year. (Well, actually, I’ve stolen them right out of the Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew.)
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