I’ve been reading about different traditions when it comes to interpreting the bible. Without trying to explain all of the different options, it’s interesting to realize that I see scripture almost exclusively from a Christ-centered perspective. I’d never really considered that other options existed, but I’ve learned that they do. As our small group studies the life […]
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Abram Left Home
A really smart leader once told a class, “If you want to make sense of scripture, THINK HEBREW.” He wanted us to remember that scripture was written to an audience in a context. We understand scripture when we put ourselves in the sandals of those to whom it was originally written. When we immediately imagine […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat If Scripture Is A Participation Sport?
Have you ever questioned an expert’s version of “what the bible says”? Yesterday I compared church to a football game: a lot of people who desperately need exercise sit around and watch a small group of people who desperately need rest. We’re especially in that mode when it comes to interpreting scripture. We often accept […]
Continue readingMore TagA Conversation With A Really Old Guy
My friend Jon Swanson’s been conversing with Nehemiah. Yeah, that Nehemiah, the one from the Bible who lived like twenty-five centuries ago and led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. I know they talked because Jon published their discussions in A Great Work. If we weren’t sure, the subtitle confirms their relationship: A Conversation With Nehemiah […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat Do Christians Believe?
This week I’m leading an adult Sunday school class called “What Do Christians Believe?” Except it’s not really a class. There’s no formal curriculum, no goals and objectives, and (gasp!) no exams. It’s really more of a multi-week forum, a chance to ask questions that don’t get asked a lot in church. My sense is […]
Continue readingMore TagA Good Measure Of Dog Food
A few days ago my friend Jon Swanson asked blog readers to explain how we read the Bible. I finally figured out my response by feeding the dog this morning. When it’s meal time, I tell Monte to “get his dish.” He eagerly fetches the scoop we use to measure his food. The scoop is […]
Continue readingMore TagAre You Watching THE BIBLE?
Are you following THE BIBLE series on The History Channel? I listened to an interview with a pastor who served as an advisor to the producers. He provided a helpful perspective. The series tries to tell the big, overarching story of the Bible in a relatively brief time frame. The challenge-which events, characters, and stories […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat Keeps Me Accountable?
What (or who) keeps you accountable? People keep asking me why I’m doing this ride. I’m finding that my internal answer is evolving as the journey begins. It’s true that this project fulfills a personal dream, that we’re having a lot of fun, that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I’m grateful for all that, but the […]
Continue readingMore TagThe “Perfect” Bible Study
I’m honored this morning to be a guest at THE SEED COMPANY. I hope you’ll drop over there and take a look. We’re on the road to Minnesota. I hope you’re preparing for a great weekend.
Continue readingMore TagWhich Peter Will Show Up?
What makes Bible stories come alive for you? I hate to admit it, but I read a lot of Scripture without really “getting into” it. I’ll read a story and it makes sense, but it’s really about someone else and doesn’t really touch me. Too often the Bible characters seem other-worldly, like some sort of […]
Continue readingMore TagJoy As A Fruit?
What’s your mental image of “joy”? I’ve been thinking about what I wrote yesterday (Joy? In Adversity? Seriously?). I do that a lot, especially when I write something that actually makes sense to me. I wonder if I got inside my own head and made up what I call “The Bible according to Rich.” I […]
Continue readingMore TagTaking It Personally
Do you have trouble hearing the Bible in a personal way? We hear a lot of discussion about whether we ahould interpret the Bible literally. I want to tell you about an experience that makes me wonder if I ought to take it a bit more personally. The other night I was feeling really down. I’d received disappointing […]
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