don’t let them tame you.
There’s this conviction that’s drilling deep down within me. And it’s slow. But it’s steady. And it just sinks and settles. And this conviction is that life is a gift—an opportunity. I’m not talking about a wimpish and half-hearted fling-the-dart-towards-the-target sort of opportunity. I’m talking the Eminem “Lose Yourself” sort of opportunity: Look, if you [...]
and it wasn’t even a “Christian” concert.
A few years ago, I led worship on a retreat for a room full of seminary wives and students. Even though we were from all over the world, we had Jesus in common. We also had a need for rest and refreshment. My Northern Irish friend shipped her mom across the pond as our keynote speaker. [...]
where did the transcendence go?
On Thursday nights, our core team gathers to eat and plan and pray and dream about launching a second campus of our congregation. It’s the one meeting of my week that I’m not responsible for—the one church meeting that I can just attend. And I get to attend as the Sunday morning worship leader for this [...]
why i wear black to church
Ours is a t-shirt and flip-flops sort of church, so I can get away with wearing just about anything that falls into the “modest” category. Plus, I’m a “musician” (said in hushed tones with hand covering mouth). So, black it is. And black it’s been for nearly three months: My favorite pair of skinny jeans. [...]
now go sit with someone…
On Guilt: “It is about as hard to absolve yourself of your own guilt as it is to sit in your own lap. Wrongdoing sparks guilt sparks wrongdoing ad nauseam, and we all try to disguise the grim process from both ourselves and everybody else. In order to break the circuit we need friends before [...]
artful markings
We all have mundane moments. You know, the ones that are boring and barely worth noting. Like the drab experience of checking out at the grocery store… Or the hazy everydayness of making the morning coffee… Or the commute home… Then we have moments of grand gesture. Like wearing dark oversized robes and a square [...]
a look back: the top 11 from 2011
It’s been an incredible year! We officially moved to a multi-blogger format. We passed over 1,000 posts and half a million published words. And we’ve experienced continued, steady growth (over 70% per year for each of the last three years). We’ve even released the first book in the BibleDude Series… The Unlikley Missionary: From Pew-Warmer [...]
because He came, we have life [@bibledude advent series]
![because He came, we have life [@bibledude advent series]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/haitian-girl-smiling-150x150.jpg)
READ 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. [...]
dream bigger this Christmas!
Just Ask. None of my (suburban, American, well-fed and cared for) grandchildren has ever told me, “I want a rubber band this Christmas.” Nor “I asked Santa for a bowl of oatmeal.” Nor “I wish for a tube of toothpaste.” No. They dream big: They ask for new bicycles and good books to read and [...]
where?
I should probably confess that prayer is one of the most difficult of all the means of connecting with God. In fact, right now I prefer to sit in silence than squeeze out a prayer. Wait. Maybe those are one and the same. Maybe. I wrote this in my journal recently: …the truth is that [...]
because He came, we have light [@bibledude advent series]
![because He came, we have light [@bibledude advent series]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/light-bulbs-150x150.jpg)
READ Psalm 18:28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. Psalm 27 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, [...]
conflicts can get ugly; watch how you enter
I’ve noticed in my life that sometimes I don’t enter conflicts well. Even if I have good intentions, many times I enter conflict primarily to elevate my pain or hurt without acknowledging the other person’s pain or hurt. What about you? I don’t think we do this on purpose. It can be difficult to think [...]
music + hope = water [#starboarders release]
![music + hope = water [#starboarders release]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/Starboarders2-150x150.jpg)
Every once in a while I come across a band that knocks my socks off. You know the one … great music, incredible lyrics, and just all around good people. Recently, I came in contact with a band that does more than just knock my socks off. They aren’t just a band that gets together [...]
how to ensure your efforts land you in the right place
Trajectory. This word has buzzed around in my head all week. tra·jec·to·ry [truh-jek-tuh-ree] noun, plural -ries. 1. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in itsflight. 2. the path described by an object moving in air or space under the influence of such forces as thrust, wind resistance, and gravity, esp the curved path of a projectile I blame Pastor Steve McCoy of 360 Church for making my head [...]
book review: creative theology
Creativity. Artist. Church. Bible. Creation. Creator. Throw all these words together in an explanatory fashion and I want to read what you have to say. And this is exactly what Sam did. And as I turned each page of Creative Theology, I found myself gaining a new insight into the relationship between all those words. [...]
because He came, we have peace [@bibledude advent series]
![because He came, we have peace [@bibledude advent series]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/dove-150x150.jpg)
READ Psalm 29 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice [...]
[mankind toons] Jesus feeds the five thousand
![[mankind toons] Jesus feeds the five thousand](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/mankind-toons-five-thousand-150x150.jpg)
And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. ~ Matthew 14:21 Source: MankindToons.com (used with permission)
a short lesson in journalism for the Christian blogger
On the first day of journalism class, I ask my budding new reporters an important question to kick things off: “By a show of hands, who in this room trusts news reporters?” And every time – every single time – no one raises a hand. (Insert sound of crickets here.) These are the students who [...]
because He came, we have joy [@bibledude advent series]
![because He came, we have joy [@bibledude advent series]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/advent-joy-150x150.jpg)
READ Psalm 16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another [...]
how taking pictures makes me a better writer
The comment said, “brilliant bokeh Dan.” And I was like, “huh, what?” She continued, “amazing that you captured this with a DROID!” And moving from the confused look to the big cheesy smile look I was like, “oh yeah!” The comment was on one of my photos on Flickr for a PhotoPlay project at TheHighCalling.org, [...]
the already/not yet of advent
Coming from a church that followed a liturgical calendar, Advent was always a focal point of the year. The Advent wreath was lit each Sunday for the 4 weeks before Christmas Eve/Day with kids and families doing a reading and lighting candles. Our message series always followed a theme (like hope, joy, peace, life), and [...]
because He came, we have hope [@bibledude advent series]
![because He came, we have hope [@bibledude advent series]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/advent-wreath-150x150.jpg)
READ Psalm 25:1-7 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are want only treacherous. Make me [...]
[video] christmas wishes, memories, and treats with @smalltownpoets
![[video] christmas wishes, memories, and treats with @smalltownpoets](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/smalltown-poets-christmas-150x150.jpg)
In part one of my two-part interview with Smalltown Poets, we talked about how their Christmas album came together and what Christmas means to them. In part two, we talk about what they would wish for this Christmas, recall some childhood memories, and learn what treats really say Christmas for them. This was the really [...]
[video] @smalltownpoets christmas
My wife LOVES Christmas music. I do to, but she would listen to it year-round if I let her. So when I got the chance to talk to Smalltown Poets about their new Christmas album, she wouldn’t let me pass it up! In part one of this two-part interview we talk about how this Christmas [...]
