Rahab and the Spies
The conquest of Canaan by the Jewish people starts to unfold in the book of Joshua. Joshua is an assistant to Moses and Moses leads his people to a land promised by God. The land was flowing with milk and honey and had a thousand acre wood (sorry – that’s Pooh Bear’s wood). The land was Canaan. Palestine, Lebanon, Israel – this was the promised land. Although Moses never reached the promised land, after his death, Joshua takes no time in leading the people on what we would refer to...
Read MoreSelling Ourselves Out
After the death of Solomon, the Northern Kingdom revolted. Now for the Hebrew people the land was divided into two nations. In the north there was Israel. In the south, Judah. Occasionally the two nations would work together to defeat an enemy. But one empire was looming too large. In an effort to avoid attack Israel and Judah starting paying tribute to Assyria. The thought was that if they were to pay tribute, Assyria would lay off. Tribute is a fancy word for selling yourself out. In...
Read MoreHippy Christians
Insert punchline here. But seriously, am I the only one who has ever thought this is strange? There are vast differences between what we think of as hippies compared to what we think of as Christian. But why? Why do hippies get the stereotype of caring about the environment? Why aren’t Christians equally likely to be thought of as “green”? I looked in the Bible to try and find specific scripture that would support the notion that we indeed should be environmentalists,...
Read MoreThe Tally Race
I attended a different church Sunday. One of the things I consciously try and do is to never turn down a church invitation. I went to Catholic School for 3 years and occasionally attended mass with friends, as an atheist. I figure if I could do that then, there is no church now that is going to be unbearable. Since I know that God enjoys speaking to me through many different venues and voices, I feel like going to a different church with a friend or someone i dont know might be his newest...
Read MoreLazarus at SouthPark Mall
Yesterday I ended up at SouthPark Mall following a business meeting across the street. As I walked around the mall, I noticed a few things: 1) There is a ridiculous amount of wealth in this place. It really feels palpable too, as if the money dust is in the air. I myself felt like I had a little bit more money just from the very act of walking around inside that place. 2) Whether they are young, college aged women or older housewives, the women there all seem angelic. It seems like they...
Read MoreMy Holy Bucket (come fill yours on Tuedays!)
Last night I went to UCF worship. It was actually the first church-ish service thing I have been to in awhile. The interesting thing is that I had no intention of being away from church for so long, but then I moved to the Pacific Northwest for the summer. And then I spent my Sundays doing other things. And then I came back, but I dont have license plates on my car. And then I thought to myself that I didnt feel any different. I didnt feel as though I was “missing”...
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