Last week I wrote about surrender of my personal desires in pursuit of Jesus’ example. This week I want to talk about surrendering who I am — my very self-identity, on all levels — to Jesus the Christ as integral to being a disciple. My modest proposal focuses on two matters. The first is that […]
In the recent history of Christian discipleship, few issues have proven more controversial than consideration of how LGBTQ+ sexuality fits within the church, and how Christians who desire to live and reflect faithfully on the claims of Jesus the Christ should respond to people who profess a non-traditional sexuality or gender. It seems to me […]
I like to make coffee. I like to make it even more than I like to drink it (and I like that as well). I have heard that coffee is an acquired taste, and I tend to agree. I used to drink coffee made in a variety of places, and I noted that it was […]
What does it mean when we say that the bible was inspired by God? In fairness, despite our formulas, we can only speculate – our statements are only theories about what happens and how. But this is a fruitful exercise for two reasons. One is that thinking through the integration of our convictions about God […]
Browsing a free book table recently, I picked up a book entitled The Foundation of Biblical Authority, edited by James Montgomery Boice, dedicated to advancing biblical inerrancy. The foundation for the theological system evident in the book was believed to arise from a commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture. Evangelical leaders in the 1970’s were […]
At the 2019 Mennonite Brethren denominational conference on hermeneutics (the study of how to interpret Scripture, in case you wondered), a significant theme in the event was the authority of Scripture. The basic premise of biblical authority is that because the bible is inspired by God, the things we read in it about life and […]
A while back, I read an article by my friend Paul Cumin in the MB Herald, and I find much in it that resonates with me as an MB pastor and theologian. It intrigues and saddens me that I see the reputation that many evangelicals have (in the US, but also in Canada) as judgmental, […]
Another observation jumps out at me as I look at the next few verses that describe Jesus’ instructions to the disciples about what to expect when they enter Jerusalem. Again, it’s easy to overlook these things, but let’s look closer. The first thing the disciples were instructed to look for was a man carrying a […]
Okay, so what is the secret? Here it is. The reason I didn’t need to have the answers — the reason leadership is not about having the answers — is that no one is asking the question! When, in your life, did someone approach you to ask you why you were so hopeful? When did […]
For the past decade or so, I have had the privilege of teaching students at MB Seminary, part of ACTS Seminaries in Langley BC. Anyone who has known me for a long time might realize that I am an unlikely seminary professor. As a seminary student, I did not fit the typical profile of a […]
The theological importance of Jesus’ words to his disciples at the Last Supper cannot be overstated. But it is what comes next that fascinates me. Jesus’ words about his betrayer in verse 21 remind us that great leadership does not automatically guarantee results. Jesus has a traitor in his inner circle. And look at how […]
In looking at the Passover meal that was the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus with his disciples, the significance of Jesus as the Passover sacrifice is important. Clearly. But there’s more. Jesus is doing more than simply identifying a theological principle. Jesus is the Master, the Rabbi. His disciples are called to follow in his […]
In Luke 22 verses 14 to 18, Jesus makes some powerful statements. First, he says he eagerly desired to eat this Passover with them. But why? Was this a normal eagerness, or something special? Second, he mentioned his coming suffering. What is that about? Third, he said that he won’t eat it again — why […]
