To put it in modern parlance, he was an “influencer.” Without access to technology that would allow unlimited multiplication and widespread distribution, he was limited regarding the scope of his reach. Live groups were the reality of his time; even then, the extent of his listening audience would be bounded by the natural acoustics. With […]

            I’m glad that we’re trusted friends, you and I. Because of that familiarity and relational faith, I can bring you in on my current situation. Cheri and I are in Switzerland today – on a personal “roots” trip – but still want to read you in on what I’m experiencing. We’re time-zones distant, but we’re

            I was at a board gathering in Texas recently; in the mix was a good friend from Minnesota – he’s also a graduate of The Master’s Program – who explained his perspective about groups these days. He said that he scans the crowd and unconsciously slots people into two categories: “youngish” and “oldish.” The

            “Do the math.” We’re all expected to do some level of computation. People whose interests run far away from the disciplines that demand quantitative prowess will, nonetheless, challenge others with that directive. By the way: did you know that God is really into math?             There’s a math-split between the

            Have you ever “struck a chord?” That’s an idiom that is not uncommon, though most often expressed by people with no musical background. It means that you’ve produced an emotional response, evoked a memory, or caused someone to agree/identify with something. That happened in last week’s Point of View: music doesn’t become a headline in

            Language is tricky: it frames our thinking – and, often, our lives – in unusual ways. What we say – and, what we mean when we say it – is both descriptive and prescriptive: it can explain where we are today and it can forecast where we think we’re going

            If you’re into history – and we all should be! – the drama woven into the scene was palpable. The setting: Israel, circa 30 AD. It was the week before the Crucifixion, and things were heating up between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. Tensions were high – as they are today. The occupation by the

            Allow me to act as a diagnostician for our cultural cohort, coming off a wild Easter season: we are virtually punch-drunk (def: dazed, stupefied). Our pastors worked overtime to distill their Easter service message for the Resurrection crowd, while our president produced his own R-rated media blast to stun the world. In the meantime,

            Be careful what words you choose to use. Right now, king is a word with emotion attached. Nine days ago, thousands of people across America participated in nationwide protests under the banner of “No Kings.” Over the last few days, Christians around the world renewed their faith history from Good Friday to Easter. In

            Betrayed.             You can’t find a story worth telling – or, hearing – that isn’t seasoned by betrayal. Sleep comes quickly if your bedside book tells only happy tales of people whose sublime pursuits are never opposed by someone they once loved and trusted. Has betrayal been part of your life story?             Every