Finding Security in the New Year

Every year, OFB’s Tim Butler assembles a Twelve Days of Christmas booklet to help anyone interested in meditating on the miracle of Christmas over that season between December 25 and Epiphany. This year’s booklet is the Kings Before, looking at Old Testament kings and what they do to help us understand who Jesus is. Today is the Seventh Day of Christmas, and if you haven’t already been on this thirteen day adventure with us, you can begin it right here.

Mystery Ahead of Christmas

Every year, OFB’s Tim Butler assembles a Twelve Days of Christmas booklet to help anyone interested in meditating on the miracle of Christmas over that season between December 25 and Epiphany. This year’s booklet is the Kings Before, looking at Old Testament kings and what they do to help us understand who Jesus is. The first day’s reading appears on this page exclusively ahead of the full release on Christmas night.

Can Grokipedia Tesla-fy Wikipedia?

We all love to hate Wikipedia: it is imperfect, but unavoidably useful; biased, but somewhat correctable. Could Grokipedia take what is good about it and round off the rough edges? Maybe.

Fury or Prayer: We Have a Choice

Such a weird flood of emotions. My church is part of a twice yearly, live streamed “Online Community Prayer Walk.” It always strikes me deeply, but how much more so as it falls on 9/11 and, more immediately, amidst two nation-shaking murders.

Get the Church Out of the Political Dump

Some piles of garbage are better than others. But if you asked me which one I’d like to lie down in, I’d say, “None of them.” The answer should be the same when answering about which sort of politics should influence Christianity.

A World of Definitional Gerrymandering

We need to define terms. Our culture is always ready to debate and toss accusations, but we fail to stop and see if we even mean the same things by the words we hurl. No wonder we never settled anything.

Prayer is Preparation

The other day, I was talking with a friend between jobs who was thinking about how to prepare for the next step. It took me back to a time I had to take the GRE — and that painful reminder of the need for preparation.

The Christian Nation Road

I’m a Christian, That’s Why I'm Skeptical of the Path

A lot of Christians today say they want a Christian nation. One would think, as a pastor, I would too. The Bible and history make my position more complicated.

Winning Our Way to a Lost Christian Witness

This week, a Christian friend shared a new claim about an alleged health cure based on an event that never happened. Another shared what the briefest of searches would have revealed was a falsehood about a political foe. The short-term “win” is often a long way from the truth.

The President Points to Jesus, So Why Am I Conflicted?

Is it acceptable to admit I’m conflicted? In our polarized society, it may not be, but I am. I’m talking about the president’s Easter Declaration and feel utterly conflicted about it.