John the Baptist was the designated messenger of a direct message: Repent, because the one who will change your life is coming, and you don’t want your current baggage to weigh you down. John had been giving that message since he was in utero, leaping in the presence of a pregnant Mary. John preached hope: […]

So often when we pray, we come to God like a child approaching Santa at Christmas – with our wish list. Our mind so easily turn to deficits, defects and diseases, and so we pray for abundance to meet deficits, perfection to replace defects, and health and healing to conqueror disease. There’s nothing wrong with […]

After a week like we just finished as a nation, we need to hear the words of Jesus—Peace! How do we go forward in life in face of contentious issues and major disagreements?  How do we find unity?  What makes us American is more than a president.  What makes us part of the “Church” is […]

There is a joy in being young that can’t be recaptured; it is a once-and-done. Enjoying God, remembering your Creator in the prime of your energy, creates a stream of life. It leads us to fear God and obey his commands, which is our whole duty.  What is it that he commands?

We’d like to think everything is done by a plan. Many of us enjoy order and planning, but everything doesn’t work out like we imagine.  Many of Solomon’s phrases are real enigmas: The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race.  The strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.  The wise are often poor.  The skillful […]

Dr. Steve Brown and Dr. Tony Campolo are two Christian friends and theologians with very different perspectives politically. They will address hot issues facing the nation this election season with civility and respect.

Some people have a tendency to be “Gung Ho” about things.  They never do anything with moderation. They’re at the front of the altar call on Friday night and stoned on Saturday night.  They swing the pendulum hard from righteous to wicked with very little middle ground.  What do we imagine Solomon meant when he […]

Jesus came to declare freedom—for the oppressed, enslaved, and imprisoned—to declare jubilee! How can we be part of bringing justice and emancipation to our community and our world?

It is a story as old as time – a young man comes into his own knowing all the answers to life. Then life and his humanity mix and things get out of focus, then twisted and finally ruined. Solomon is the prodigal who had everything until he wandered away from God. When he found […]