As we connect with God and others, it is helpful to explore the meaning of "Gospel" and "Church" - what fascinating etymologies they have. Then we turn to the work of the Church - Gospel Astonishment, Gospel culture and Gospel Movement.

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Donald Gray Barnhouse pastored Tenth Presbyterian Church for 36 years. When asked what he thought it would look like if Satan controlled a city, he replied: "Pornography would be banished, pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians...Churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached." This episode examines the supposed tidy righteousness of the Pharisees and compares that self-righteousness with the good news of Jesus freely giving many his righteousness.

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We marvel at the power of sport to gather people.

When the World Cup starts, the world stops.

Without diminishing the passion fans feel for soccer, let's pause to reinvigorate - to "own" - other arts. I want to "own" "religion" - the humble grandeur of being befriended by Christ and following him.

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The origin of profanity is "pro-fano" - literally, "outside the Temple" - "gutter language." Knowing that origin and knowing how Jesus went "outside the "Temple" of heaven to reclaim us, draws us to him.

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When I preached Dad's funeral, I told a packed church about a shy boy from an isolated homestead in the plains of Colorado who traveled the world and left his imprint - through his career, his service, and 53 family members who called this only child "Dad" and "Pop Pop." Dad was "Dad" because of God. Wh...

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For us to trust, God knows we need more than someone simply "speaking" a blessing over us. Christians understand profound trust develops as we recognize that Another has given his lifeblood in our place. Here the history of our English word "bless" intrigues us. In English, unlike Hebrew, Greek or L...

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Let's explore: Leviticus 19:28 - "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." And let's get the bigger picture too. In Leviticus 19:28 God is also telling us we must put boundaries on expressing grief. Some who wouldn't be caught dead with a tattoo are willing to let gri...

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I'd like to entice you to start reading the book of Proverbs habitually, to continue the conversation with sages who lived millennia ago. As a culture, we tend to have attention deficit syndrome - we like short Tweets more than extended thoughts. That's Proverbs! And can you gather your own proverbs?

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It is not unusual to hear: "I'm into relationship with God, not religion.'" But, hear that cliché with my ears. By the conclusion of this essay, I hope you will join me on a quest to reclaim this misunderstood word, "religion."

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In the US, our New Year's holiday consistently ranks as the year's deadliest day for alcohol-related fatalities - and, in Montana the challenge of alcoholism continues year round. I was requested to write this longer column to address, as a Christian, this great...

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