Why am I so obsessed with Frankl’s work?
If you and I have a conversation, I will probably bring up Viktor Frankl sooner or later. I can’t help it. Thinkers like Frankl have transformed how I look at human psychology and influenced how I present Biblical theology.
In fact, one of my co-workers joked that a recipe for my sermons goes something like this:
· Two parts Scripture
· One part C.S. Lewis
· One part Viktor Frankl
Well, he’s probably right about that.
Why are Lutherans so Afraid of the Holy Spirit?
Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, described a conversation between the Apostle Paul and 12 followers of Jesus in the city of Ephesus.
Paul asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They replied, “We didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:17)
About a year ago, I had the same conversation with a lifelong believer in our church. I was teaching a few men about the Holy Spirit. Then afterward, one man approached me privately and said, “I didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit.”
Just last night, it happened again. A very strong Christian heard I was preaching on the Holy Spirit and said, “I don’t know much about the Holy Spirit. I know God the Father is my true father and creator. I know Jesus is God, the Son, my Savior. But I really don’t know what to do with the Holy Spirit.”
I know exactly how they feel. As Lutherans, we almost avoid the Holy Spirit.
Lutherans are known for emphasizing Jesus Christ.
Every worship service, Bible study, and children’s Sunday school stresses the death and resurrection of Jesus (as it should!).
But why are we so afraid of the Holy Spirit?
You Have a Wonderful Life
According to the American Film Institute (AFI), It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the greatest movies ever.
That’s high praise, especially for a movie that initially flopped at the box office when it came out in 1946.
For decades, this classic was dismissed and forgotten. Until the 1970s, it lost its copyright protection because of a clerical error. This led several TV companies to broadcast it broadly for cheap. And like all good art, it eventually received the recognition it deserved.
What can we know about life after death?
I've developed a new hobby, or perhaps it's more of an obsession: researching near-death experiences (NDEs). It all started when I listened to a podcast featuring an author, John Burke, who wrote a book called Imagine Heaven. Burke interviewed and researched over 1000 cases of NDEs. What he found is that they all tell a similar story, even if their interpretations vary. These stories are not limited to people in the US, but come from individuals from every nation, tribe, language, and culture. And most importantly, their accounts match up with what we already know from the Scriptures.
Why Self-care is not Selfish
Personal growth can sometimes feel selfish. Why invest so much time and money in reading self-improvement books, exercising, or being coached? I have work to do, bills to pay, and a house full of people who depend on me. How can I justify dedicating so much time to my own well-being?
How to stay motivated
My labrador retriever, Scout, is not subtle. When she’s hungry, you’ll hear her groan by her doggy bowl, or she’ll paw at your leg until you listen. With a slice of raw beef in hand, I can get her to sit, spin, lie down, or roll over — whatever it takes for one little bite.
Scout is motivated by pleasure.
In many ways, humans are no different. Flash an ad that tempts the stomach or the sex drive, and you might win an easy customer.
What does the Bible say about eternal rewards?
I grew up watching Goonies, Mighty Ducks, and The Sandlot.
For whatever reason, every one of those movies had a similar character:
Chunk.
Golberg.
Ham.
The fat kid.
Well, that was me.
I was the fat kid.
Where is God when you can’t see him?
The book of Esther doesn’t belong in the Bible. At least, not a first glance. In Esther, no one prays. No one praises. No one predicts the coming Messiah. Most surprising of all, God is never mentioned. That’s right. Esther is the one book in the Bible that never brings up the idea of God.
Why is that?
Five ways to navigate your midlife crisis
This December, I will be turning 41 years old, and I feel my midlife crisis lurking. In some ways, its fangs have already injected its poison. In the past, I felt like a deep well of fresh ideas to lead God's people and reach the unreached. But now, I sit blankly as younger leaders are ten steps ahead of me.
You are what you look at
In our modern world, we might say, “You are what you eat.” But Jesus would say, “You are what you look at.” Whereas we might compare our eyes to cameras that face outward, taking snapshots and videos of what we see; Jesus says our eyes are more like lamps that shine on our inner being. What we look at saturates our souls.
The moment I almost lost my faith
The religious rug was pulled out from under my feet. In the middle of my studies to become a pastor, I somehow stumbled onto a video of a militant atheist named Richard Dawkins. He was speaking to a packed auditorium at the University of Berkley. Although he was a well-known scientist, his presentation style was more like a stand-up comedian than a biologist. He equated believing in God to believing in the spaghetti monster. And the crowd that was listening to him roared with laughter.
Naked and no shame
It is the kind of verse that makes children snicker. Or it makes groomsmen giggle. Maturity doesn’t always accompany age.
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Genesis 2:25).
This seems like a strange and unnecessary detail, especially at the beginning and most fundamental section of Scripture.
So what’s going on here?