Hope Church

What Jesus accomplished at the cross is both simple and at the same time multi-faced. These truths are of central importance in initially coming to faith but can’t be left behind for deeper truths. In a recent book Mark Driscoll helps us see these different aspects of the cross. Death by Love is an exploration of cross that is both a theological rich and pastoral helpful.

I know for many of you that is a repulsive thought? If you have ever sat near me in church you know why. But I can be heard along with Brian Metz on an upcoming CD release, sort of.

On the day after the election, I want to issue a challenge to both sides of the aisle.  No matter if your candidate won or lost, I
want to encourage you to think about some scripture that should guide your attitudes, words, and actions for the next four years and hopefully beyond. 

If your candidate won my challenge to you . . .

Today we vote to elect the next president of the United States. Among the people that I speak with there is both great hope and overwhelming fear. What will the next leader do? How will he effect my life, pocket book, children, and the future?

It will be a historic day. But . . . my question is where does your ultimate trust lie? Is it in the government or its leaders be they on the right or the left?

You probably speak 1000’s of words in a week. Each one of those words is a window to who you are, inside. They are gaps that open into your personhood to expose the heart underneath. No words are unintentional or originate from somewhere else than your heart. In an excellent message Paul Tripp reminds us of this reality from scripture. And he points us to the cross.

One very old Christians saying goes, "God uses crooked sticks to strike straight blows." The idea is that in our difficulties, brokeness, and even sinfulness God uses us as His instruments in the lives of others.

This hurricane season has been very active.  Names like Ike & Gustav have taken on new significance.  Major US cities have taken hits.  There is much to be done for those in the path of these storms. 

But one place that has received little new coverage has been the places outside of the U.S. that has been affected by the storms. 
One place is Haiti, a small war-torn, impoverished "half-island"country in the Caribbean.  With the lack of infrastructure and finances these places are especially hard hit.

I'm watching my language these days.  Not in the context of cussing or foul language (although I am doing that - but that's for a different post).  I'm thinking about the language that we use both to identify ourselves and others. Specifically, how we talk and think about the concept of "race".

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,