The 75th episode of my podcast has just been published.
Today, I’d like to honor three luminous souls who transitioned to heavenly places recently.
Dallas Willard – I never met Dallas. We had a few email exchanges, but he was getting too sick to continue them. Dallas Willard was the salt of the earth. His passion to know Christ in the depths and his high-voltage intellect made him a bright and shining light.
Brennan Manning – I’ve already written about Brennan elsewhere and mentioned the personal advice he gave me on writing that I shall never forswear. I was privileged to meet this wonderful brother in Christ and spent several days with him back in 2007.
Bill Freeman – Less known, I got to know Freeman to some degree. I spent time with him a number of years ago at a conference in which he spoke. A magnificently gifted man with a passion for Christ’s supremacy and all-inclusiveness as well as a solid understanding of God’s Eternal Purpose. Freeman’s book The Supplied Life made my top 100 books ever written list. Continue Reading…
Jesus talked a lot about losing, taking up our cross, denying ourselves, and laying down our lives.
These are the fruits of brokenness before God.
It’s not hard to spot a Christian in ministry who isn’t broken. Unbroken people don’t know how to lay their lives down and lose. They only know how to try to win.
If they’re criticized, they retaliate.
If they’re attacked, they return fire. If misunderstood, they defend in anger.
They are capable of doing all sorts of damage to others in order to save their own ministries and keep their reputations.
On the contrary, people who have been broken by the hand of God know how to turn the other cheek. They know how to go the second mile. They know how to give their coats when asked for their shirts. They know how to speak well of those who misrepresent them. They know how to return good for evil.
They know how to lose.
And in so doing, they exhibit the Spirit of the Lamb and allow God to win. Continue Reading…
Paul of Tarsus was a disciple of Gamiliel, the famed Jewish rabbi.
This story in Acts 5, following the divine judgment enacted upon Ananias and Sapphira, has always been both chilling and instructive to me. It says,
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Continue Reading…
The 73rd episode of my podcast has just been published.
My new book is now available. Download and Spread the Book Sampler
Watch and Spread the Video Below.
This story of Mary of Bethany’s extravagant act of anointing Jesus for burial holds many profound lessons for every genuine Christian today.
The narrative contains the only sermon that Judas ever preached. Listen to his three-word protest.
“Why this waste?”
When Judas saw Mary’s worshipful act, he exploded with criticism, saying, “Why are you being so wasteful? You could have helped the poor with this small fortune!”
But Mary stepped out in faith. Her act of extravagant love was shameless, selfless, and risked both embarrassment and the sneers and jeers of harsh criticism. Continue Reading…
From the Lips of Lazarus . . .
It’s been more than thirty years since I met Him. The day He first entered our home is etched in my mind forever. I shall never forswear those memories.
My sisters, Mary and Martha, are no longer with us. Neither is my father, Simon, whom Jesus healed of leprosy.
Most of the Teacher’s close disciples, all of whom I had the privilege of knowing, have rendered their lives for His Name’s sake.
A number of them committed to the written page their own encounters with Him. Words that I’ve read and consider to be God-breathed. Since I am not sure how much longer I have left on this earth, I wish to leave behind the story of the times Jesus came to my hometown, Bethany, and of all the people He forever changed while He was here.
The One who lived before the earth existed spent only thirty three years on the planet. And God gave me the unique honor of sharing some of those years with Him.
I did not know it at the time, but the Galilean prophet was rejected everywhere He went. When I discovered this, the irony dawned on me. Continue Reading…
From the lips of Lazarus . . .
Living after you have died is strange.
You appreciate life like never before. Martha’s lentil soup never tasted so good. Even the capers, which I had never relished, were suddenly exquisite.
It had been months since Jesus brought me back to the realm of the living. And as was His custom, the Teacher visited us once again on His way to Jerusalem.
We did not know it at the time, but this visit would mark the last week of His earthly life. That entire week, He would visit the holy city in the day and retreat in the evening to our home, where He and His disciples lodged overnight.
When we received word that Jesus was coming, my father decided to host a private dinner party to celebrate my resurrection. Jesus would be the guest of honor.
As usual, Martha served as hostess and Mary assisted. Before the banquet began, Martha insisted that I sit next to Jesus, which I gladly did. My father sat at the head of the table with Jesus at his right hand in the place of honor.
Our house was packed to the brim that evening. Voices rose to the roof. Bright colors of clothing dotted the public room. Some of our closest friends were present, including relatives from Bethany and Jerusalem. It was a reunion of everyone we held dear.
The dinner party was held six days before Passover. And Jesus brought all of His disciples. Continue Reading…
The 72nd episode of my podcast has just been published.
