Music has an uncanny ability to provide an escape from the worries and woes of the world. A good song can transport you. It can momentarily free you from the tyranny of your immediate surroundings. But music also has the ability to do just the opposite. It can drive us deeper into the messiness of reality…
On Spiritual Heroes
This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door in Wittenberg. Back in 1517, that event may not have seemed all that significant. But in hindsight, it is that action which has come to be seen as the ceremonial beginning of the Protestant Reformation, arguably one of the most…
Jesus Died to Take Our Punishment (Rom. 5:9)
The justice of God is a wonderful thing to be celebrated – but only if we don’t have to be on the receiving end of it. The testimony of Scripture, however, is that we are on the receiving end of it, because we have sinned grievously against a holy God. We deserve his wrath. This…
#MusicMonday: Jamestown Revival, “Poor Man’s Gold”
I’ve been on a serious Jamestown Revival kick today. I first encountered their music a couple years ago through their catchy song, “California (Cast Iron Soul).” Since then, they’ve released a new album, The Education of a Wandering Man, and on it is this soulful little stomp about a conversation between a rich man and a preacher. This stripped-down…
Jesus Died to Show God’s Love (Rom. 5:8, Jn. 3:16)
In a world where love is hard to come by, the death of Jesus introduces us to a brand new reality that we can’t find anywhere else: the reality of pure, selfless, unmerited love that comes to us in our weakest moments and meets our deepest need. When we consider why Jesus died, we can’t…
Shaking the Market Share Mindset
Suppose that you work as an executive for the Superior Widget Company. It’s a relatively small business with modest sales, but your goal is to lead the company to expand. So you beef up your marketing efforts and resource your sales team. You revisit your product design and give greater attention to quality control. You…
#MusicMonday: Dashboard Confessional, “A Plain Morning”
I look out my window, and I see snow. I look at the weather forecast, and I see temperatures in the teens. I look at my calendar, and I see “March.” These things trouble my soul. “A Plain Morning” is one of Dashboard Confessional’s earliest songs, and it’s filled with all the sad guitars and…
Tattoos and the Paradox of Preaching
In recent years, I’ve come to develop an appreciation for the art of tattooing. The styles, the techniques, the history, the culture — it’s all fascinating to me. But perhaps what I find most intriguing about this oft-maligned (yet increasingly mainstream) art form is the profound paradox that exists at the heart of it. A…
#MusicMonday: Judah and the Lion, “Suit and Jacket”
At the age of 31, I can’t help but think that I should feel more “grown up” than I do. But here I am, after more than three decades, still trying to make sense of where I’m at in life. And (if I can be honest) still not wanting to go without a fight into…
Exodus and the Gospel-Shaped Life
We can’t come to the end of the book of Exodus and assume that we “get it” just because we’ve read and studied all 40 chapters. Sure, that’s certainly an accomplishment! But before we can fully appreciate the book of Exodus, we must step back and see how this book impacts all the other books…
Truth in a Time of Tragedy
Our little corner of the world has been rocked recently by the news of two teenage girls who were murdered in the woods near Delphi, Indiana. It’s a chilling story that continues to occupy the center of attention for local news outlets (and has been picked up by a few national outlets, as well). In…
God Doesn’t Give Up (Ex. 35:1-40:38)
The ending of Exodus may not seem all that impressive or triumphant at first glance. But when we realize how Exodus could have ended, our perspective quickly changes. After a remarkable story of repeated sin and rebellion and opposition and unlikely odds, the fact that God is still continuing on his mission with his people…
