[god in the yard] rules: the way
![[god in the yard] rules: the way](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/baby-birds-100x100.jpg)
Welcome to the world, he says, when I carefully part the branches for him to see. There are only three and so we know. One of the hatchlings did not make it. But this somber knowledge gives way to joy as the babies detect our presence and, mistaking us for mother, open mouths wide for [...]
[god in the yard] woods: invitation
![[god in the yard] woods: invitation](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7574-100x100.jpg)
There’s something about nature that makes it a holy place. The quietness. The peacefulness. The freedom that comes from no distractions – no TV, no computer, no phones. Just birds chirping and leaves rustling. Maybe a buzzing bee here and there. In the midst of my crazy world, nature feels like a safe place. The [...]
[epistle of james] project wordles
![[epistle of james] project wordles](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/epistle-of-james-project-100x100.png)
When we complete a group blogging project around here we usually do a wordle on the posts. I love the visual representation of text that wordle.net creates. And our group study on the Epistle of James is no different. This first one is on the text from the contributions to the project. James is obviously [...]
[god in the yard] introduction
![[god in the yard] introduction](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/reading-under-a-tree-100x100.jpg)
“This is the story of an unusual year, when I did something I never intended to do. But it is also a course in discovery and playing towards God, through spiritual practice, offered with gentle expectations.” ~ L.L. Barkat Some of the best growth we can experience is completely unintended. It comes in those moments [...]
[fatherless generation] closing thoughts from @johnsowers
![[fatherless generation] closing thoughts from @johnsowers](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/183831_10150149721987835_533307834_8142038_346586_n-100x100.jpg)
Thank you Dan (and the BibleDude.net community), It is humbling and encouraging to see the response to the book. I am grateful for this project – and hope that all of us will become advocates for it’s message. The fatherless story is written into the heart of our generation, read in our blogs, seen in [...]
i’m gonna be sick
I’m starting to feel sick. I’ve only started this post once or twice already, praying and hoping that some gamma ray of inspiration will zap my fingers into tap-tap-tapping their way across the screen of this iPhone. I don’t normally write on my phone, but I’m on my way to town because the software I [...]
reflection, #1000gifts, and #fatherlessgeneration: [march 2011 top content]
![reflection, #1000gifts, and #fatherlessgeneration: [march 2011 top content]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/traffic-100x100.jpg)
First of all, thank you for helping make March a record month for traffic for us here at BibleDude.net! We’ve been shifting our approach a little bit, and it seems to be resonating with old and new readers alike. The biggest shift has been to more of a multi-blogger format. We’ve always hosted lots of [...]
just an ordinary man
Brandon Cole is an ordinary man. He goes to work Monday through Friday, takes his son fishing or plays softball on Saturdays, and faithfully attends the church down the road each Sunday. And sometimes, the following Monday, I hear from the other guys, he loses his temper. Like I said, Brandon Cole is an ordinary [...]
i’m a gossip junkie
The people from my town love to gossip. Secretly, so do I. With a population just over four hundred people, it’s small enough to know almost everyone and large enough to always have breaking news. “I heard your family bought that business… I sure hope you can manage it better than the previous owners have!” [...]
an awkward introduction
I’m new to this site. And as a contributing author, I feel it only proper to introduce myself. “Hi, my name is Duane Scott… and I have a thing for squirrels.” I hold out my hand to you, waiting patiently for you to return the hand shake. I notice the subtle cock of your eyebrow, [...]
books, community, and social justice: [february 2011 top content]
![books, community, and social justice: [february 2011 top content]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/traffic-jam-100x100.jpg)
I love looking at my analytics and learning more about what people are picking up and reading around here. I always learn a lot about what’s resonating with people, and sometimes renew a passion for certain topics that I may not have thought about in a while. This month, I definitely see some trends in [...]
books, poverty, and marriage: [january 2011 top content]
![books, poverty, and marriage: [january 2011 top content]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/traffic-in-brisbane-100x100.jpg)
In an effort to better understand what’s bringing people to BibleDude.net (and what’s keeping them here), I’ve been looking at my Google Analytics a little closer. The list below represents the top 10 posts by pageviews during the month of January 2011. I notice a few interesting trends here… book review: aftershock by @kentannan (most [...]
[the story of God, the story of us]: closing thoughts from sean gladding
![[the story of God, the story of us]: closing thoughts from sean gladding](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/Sean-Gladding-100x100.jpg)
Wow dude… We just finished an amazing group blogging project working through Sean Gladding’s The Story of God, the Story of Us. And I know that I can speak for all of the contributors when I say that this was not just a great book, but also an incredible experience. As usual, we like to [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 12: consummation
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 12: consummation](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/hugging-100x100.jpg)
Consummation. A word that is rich in meaning. While this word speaks of a specific event in a finite space of time, it also speaks of a future which is yet to be completed. Marriages are consummated with the expectation of two people coming together in a joining of their lives to begin a new [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 11: Church
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 11: Church](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/church-100x100.jpg)
As I think about what it means to be the church, the merchant’s voice rings in my ear…. It’s difficult to understand, difficult to believe. The woman tells the story of the resurrection of Jesus and the very early church and I am left with more questions than I started with. Countless times I have [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 10: Cross
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 10: Cross](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/washing-feet-100x100.jpg)
Throughout this chapter, and through the tears of grief and of celebration that often accompany the telling of events leading up to and following Christ’s death, I found myself asking God a most unexpected question. “Lord, do I really have to tell people I have toe fungus?” I must have asked about five times before [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 9: Christ
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 9: Christ](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/jesus-crown-of-thorns-100x100.jpg)
Imagine a king who looked at an ordinary peasant, and saw extraordinary potential. Imagine a king who looked at a misfit, and saw possibility. Imagine a king who looked at a sinner and called him “friend.” That’s our King – Christ Jesus. In the Upside-Down Kingdom of Christ, being “ordinary” is anything but. This profound [...]
[the story of God, the story of us]: interlude
![[the story of God, the story of us]: interlude](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/waiting-the-hardest-part-100x100.jpg)
I’ve purposely taken a break from writing during our break (or interlude) from this project. We finished the ‘Old Testament’ part of The Story just before Christmas. And now after a week-long break we’re picking up with the ‘New Testament’ part. During this interlude, I tried to focus on the waiting. Through the first part [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 8: conceit
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 8: conceit](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/sunrise-over-galilee-100x100.jpg)
“God’s beautiful gift of rest and freedom from the slavery of activity to which people seem prone to give themselves.” Gladding’s description of the Sabbath shakes me—a not so gentle rousing from the daze of default living. This autopilot lifestyle is one set on a collision course with death waiting at the other end. There [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 7: crown
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 7: crown](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/advent-100x100.png)
On Christmas Eve, in a dim corner of our Iowa home, I’ll light our Advent candle for the last time this year. For us, the waiting will be over. Our Prince of Peace has come. Our King of Kings has arrived. Our babe – the Messiah — has been born in Bethlehem. We will celebrate [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 6: conquest
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 6: conquest](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/losing-the-way-out-100x100.jpg)
This is, by far, the hardest part of the story for me so far. The young girl’s question rings repeatedly in my head: How can a God of hesed love order the deaths of thousands? The old man has no answer – perhaps there is no answer. Or maybe the answer is simple: God keeps [...]
[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 5: community (part 2)
![[the story of God, the story of us] chapter 5: community (part 2)](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/new-orleans-jazz-band-100x100.jpg)
Chapter 5 opens with the crowds gathering together once again at the fireside with the old man and musician getting ready to open the weeks storying time. The people gather with the expectation of a comfortable story but instead they begin to be reminded of the reason why they are currently being held captive in [...]
how to write [a short story on justice]
![how to write [a short story on justice]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/justice1-100x100.jpg)
There’s been lots of activity here at BibleDude.net over the last several months looking for short stories on one topic… justice. Back in August 2009 we ran a little creative writing challenge on justice for an upcoming The Idea Camp conference on Compassion and Justice. In that challenge readers submitted all kinds of creative writing [...]
reflections on resurrection, the word, and self [april 2011 top content]
This has become a bit of a habit so far this year. I enjoy seeing (and analyzing) what content seems to be resonating with people around here. The month in which we celebrate Easter shows that how we remember the Resurrection was foremost in people’s minds. There also seemed to be a strong interest in [...]
May 08, 2011 | Categories: connect, the latest | Tags: bible commentary, easter, good friday, group blogging project, holy week, interview, lists, reflection, resurrection, statistics | Leave A Comment »