At the Biblical Institute, we believe that God is always at work, even in the things we don’t want or don’t understand.  He has a plan.  He is executing his plan, making it a reality.  He calls us to collaborate with him, to make his plan ours, to become his partners in his work. The … Continue reading The Most Difficult Spiritual Discipline

Tom Gombis is a professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  As Dan Patrick would say, his blog, "Faith Improvised", has been "en fuego" throughout the coronavirus shutdown. The piece that spoke most clearly to me is "I Welcomed Grief as a Friend."  What follows is a sample, but you should read the whole thing. Paul’s … Continue reading Tim Gombis: “I Welcomed Grief …”

From 5Q Central: As we approach Holy Week and contemplate the journey that Jesus took, we are also reminded of a group of disciples who needed to let go of their old ideas and allow their eyes and hearts to be opened to a new way. Jesus' group of disciples and followers were about to … Continue reading Ministry in times of COVID-19

If you lead a nonprofit, a church or missions organization or NGO, etc., how are you thinking about the future? I have started thinking about worst case scenarios, and I think most of what I've thought of will be applicable to ANY nonprofit, donor-financed organization.  Here are the three main scenarios I've thought of. 1. … Continue reading Nonprofit Leadership and COVID-19

The Biblical Institute had our weekly all-employee meeting today via Zoom webconference. (I call this meeting our "left hand" meeting, because the goal is for the left hand to know what the right hand is doing.  Matt 6.3 is good theology but it's bad organizational philosophy.) Here is the devotion I began the meeting with. … Continue reading The Biblical Institute’s Core Values

Do you know the Cory Asbury song, "Reckless Love"? Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God It chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still you give yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. About a year ago, I … Continue reading Why I Love “Reckless Love”

I have come with one purpose To capture for myself a bride By my life she is lovely By my death she's justified I have always been her husband Though many lovers she has known So with water i will wash her And by my word alone So when you hear the sound of the … Continue reading Saturday Song: The Church (Derek Webb)

Had a long, wonderful conversation with a brilliant young New Testament scholar this morning, Rafael Rodriguez of Johnson University.  (Rafael is "young" because he is younger than me.) He is doing important work reading the Bible historically, but also exploring how the Bible (properly read) should inform life, faith, and practice in the church today. … Continue reading What’s Your Primary Orientation?

Since at least the Reagan era, Republicans have treated most serious ideological differences as the moral equivalent of war. This has been especially true since the ascent of Newt Gingrich. We see this in the battles over abortion, the Culture Wars, Obamacare, gun rights, etc., ad nauseum. What does it do to us when we … Continue reading The Moral Equivalent of War