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Tearing Down the Temple
Jesus’s call for the end of faith as we know it Now, Jesus isn’t pushing us toward a churchless faith, a religionless spirituality, or independent devotion. Jesus doesn’t attack the institution because it is an institution but because the leadership of the existing institution is corrupt. Because how they understand scripture is corrupt. Because the…
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In the Middle
The Transfiguration, Peter, and how it feels in the inbetween. The middle, the hinge point in Mark is the end of chapter 8, when Jesus tells the disciples what is about to happen to him and to the movement, and the beginning of chapter 9, when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain. This is the…
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How to Make a New Year’s Resolution Stick
Yesterday, I wrote a bummer of a piece telling you that you would most certainly fail. That great New Year’s resolution to lose weight or not eat chocolate? Sorry. You’ve already failed, you just might not know it yet. And that resolution to read everyday, that’s hanging by a thread. That was yesterday. Today I’m…
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Why Your New Year’s Resolution Is Bound to Fail
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If you are like the millions who do, you no doubt find that they are always harder than they seem. Looking back at the last few years, many of us recognize a pretty poor track record. Even the words “New Year’s resolution” conjures thoughts of failure and personal experiences…
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How Generosity Could Save the Church
I’m going to come right out and say it. The economics of future-proofing the church are directly dependent on the generosity of older generations. If the church as we know it is to survive the next two decades, it’ll be because something changed. Either we changed or the culture changed. Or maybe the circumstances changed. Or all…
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When the Leader Is Not the Problem
We are eager in the U.S. to blame our leaders and hold them responsible for our dysfunction. I am now realizing that this often should not be the case. Or, to be honest, it should rarely be the case. A friend reminded me in the spring as I spoke to him about some structural plans…
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If it ain’t broke, make it better
When the first iPhone debuted, it changed everything. It wasn’t just a hot seller or a fad gadget, but a certified game changer. Suddenly everyone was signing up for data plans, and the U.S. and world markets exploded over the new technology. iPhone was king. Apple’s strategy with the phone, like its strategy 30 years…
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Change isn’t the hardest thing
We think change is hard. We associate all sorts of unpleasantness and discomfort with it. We moan about the unknown and cry but we hate change! when invited to try something new. We don’t really hate change. And change isn’t really all that hard. It just isn’t “normal” to us. Try eating at a…