Here’s a link (courtesy CRN/Slice) to Rob Bell teaching at Willow Creek in 2002.
It is a basic outline of what Ray VanderLaan and other first century Jewish-Christian scholars believe about first century Judiasm.  He tends to over-simplify some issues, but does a good job packing a lot of information into a short amount of time.  [...]

More Mary wackiness in Houston. Seems someone hid the Make-a-Mary toaster, and she appeared on a pizza pan (sans the pizza). I wonder if they used virgin olive oil in the pizza sauce…
This still doesn’t beat Our Lady of the Underpass… but it’s close…

Most anyone who has been around me and discussed the Hebrew roots of Christianity can probably attest that when we hit the subject of Pharisees, my view of them was somewhat unexpected, and forceful.  How could I say anything good about these guys?  Just check out the textbook definition of Pharisee:
1. A member of an [...]

Chapter 7 (the last chapter) of Velvet Elvis, entitled ‘Good’, and it is about God’s creation, the fall of man, the institution of the church, and loving your neighbor. It is a challenging chapter in terms of some of the suggestions on what it means to be a blessing to others, and how to love [...]

At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I [...]

Chapter 6 of Velvet Elvis, entitled ‘New’, is about sin, forgiveness, grace and repentence. It also discusses eternal life, heaven and hell as present realities with future implications.
Here are the study guides (for the participant and facilitator/leader):
Velvet Elvis: New (Study Guide)
Velvet Elvis: New (Facilitator Guide)
Links to previous chapters:
Velvet Elvis: Introduction
Velvet Elvis: Jump
Velvet Elvis: Yoke
Velvet [...]

I spent a long, hard day working a high school show choir competition, but had a chance to take in “The Externally Focused Church” by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson (you can buy it here – I recommend it, especially for those who are missional & who have concern for both the mission and the [...]

Last week and this week, my blogging schedule will be pretty light, as I’ve got a number of outside commitments, and with only one home computer, my kids’ homework assignments (for some reason) always get first priority.
I am working on a few articles:

1. Velvet Elvis: the next chapter is almost done – just need some [...]