Eugene Peterson discusses his influences as a writer, as well as how and why he created the Message translation. This was at a Writer’s Symposium by the Sea in California. He relates his experience translating and interpreting the Bible into the Message version. From 2007. Peterson talks about how the Bible is about storytelling, and discusses the influences on him, from Walker Percy to Wendell Berry to James Joyce’s Ulysses.
It’s so easy to slip into the trap of thinking that “worship” = “singing.” Don’t get me wrong—music is a popular and powerful avenue to worship, and I, for one, love being in worship bands and choirs! But worship also takes many other forms. Consciously broadening our definition of “worship” (an act that can itself become a form of worship) helps us to broaden our experience of the great richness and beauty of our Creator, leading us in turn to more and deeper praise of Him.
Jesus’ parable about the lost sheep has always struck a chord in me. I appreciate the willingness of our Lord and savior giving the extra effort for each of us. Sadly, not every lost sheep wants to be rescued from the wilderness. Too often we convince ourselves we can manage on our own, or perhaps worse, that God’s grace is a con game, with God playing the role of uncaring huckster trying to steal who we are. The world is filled with people who believe a variant of those lies, and would rather be cut and broken by the wild beasts of the woods, or succumb to delusions brought on by the poisons of the world, than ask for rescue.
Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
In most cases, choosing to live for the world or for God is not a life or death issue. For Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Catholic Church in England in 1170, the choice cost him his life.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaks about his abiding faith during years of South African apartheid with 'What Is Enlightenment Magazine's editor Jessica Roemischer. Archbishop Tutu discusses the profound effects of prayer on his life, and what it felt like to be prayed for--the sustaining of it.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes.…
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Paradigm Questions To which of the following commands of Christ’s do you only pay only lip service? Love your enemies…
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Eugene Peterson’s book, Eat This Book gets its name from Revelation 10:9-10 when John asks for the scroll containing God’s…
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This Christian apologetics written by C. S. Lewis and first published in 1942. Lewis composed a book of letters from…
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Bob Dylan in the song Watered-Down Love describes the treacheries of watering down the love that God has for us.…
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Bruce Cockburn’s song Dialogue With The Devil powerfully describes the ease of slipping away from the presence of God and…
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Academy Award nominated film from 1973 about the spiritual awakening of St. Francis of Assisi. The style of the film…
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Amazing Grace is a historical drama about William Wilberforce who was elected to British Parliament at the age of 21…
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The finished diamond is one of the most beautiful and desirable gems.
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As we abide in him and he abides in us, we are receiving his life rather than creating our own…
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“falling in love with God,” as Boa’s subtitle for the facet explains. In this approach we attempt to enter into…
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We experience a great sense of the wonder, boldness, and overwhelming awe of God through our relationship with the Holy…
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Praise is adoration of God for who He is, His person, His character, His names. It is loving God because…
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What does it mean to be a Christian?
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What does it mean to be a disciple, to follow the disciplines necessary to serve Jesus with our whole heart?
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And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15
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