Last week I put together a series of posts at www.inamirrordimly.com on the book of Revelation that really connected with readers. While I think the popular "Left Behind" view on Revelation has a few points correct, I think the overall narrative that it fosters creates some problems for both our theology and our practice.

There is a consistent theme in the Old and New Testaments that God is moving us toward a future where all shall be set right: justice will win and everyone in the world will know there is only one true God. Jesus signaled the coming of God's Kingdom with his miracles and signs, a spreading of God's blessings that demonstrate God is beginning to recreate the world.

All will give an account of their deeds when the Kingdom is fully realized. Salvation will come to the followers of Jesus. He will judge the living and the dead. FULL POST

HOLLYWOOD (April 15, 2010) -- A one-hour film called The Wordz Project hits the streets Tuesday, April 20. You've never seen anything like it before.

The brand-new film documents one of the most unlikely musical journeys in recent history.

Rap legends The Last Poets (often referred to as the founders of rap), superstars Bone Thugs N-Harmony, Mr. Mixx from the notorious 2 Live Crew, and others joined forces with up-and-coming young rappers from Watts and Compton with one single purpose . . . to write their own New Testament, rapping the words of Jesus from Lee Cantelon's internationally acclaimed book, The Words, www.TheWords.com.

The Wordz Project began in an automobile garage south of Los Angeles, where Bigg Slice was busy building one of the twenty-eight custom cars he's designed for Snoop Dogg. At the time, the idea was simple: have Bigg Slice narrate Lee Cantelon's book. From this first encounter, the project "took flight on the wings it was given," as Layzie Bone (Bone Thugs N-Harmony) said later, after he and "the Bone family" became involved. FULL POST

In Mark 7 Jesus traveled to the Gentile region of Tyre. While there he tried to keep a low profile, but the news about him spread and a woman boldly sought him out in the home where he was staying.

We don't know much about this woman. Did she have a husband or was she a widow? Did she come alone because no one else she knew believed in Jesus or wanted anything to do with this Jew?

In addition, she didn't bring her daughter with her, and we only read that she begged Jesus to drive out the demon, not that he should go with her to heal her daughter. What does this tell us about her faith? FULL POST

In the first two chapters of the book of Romans Paul built an argument for the equality of Jews and Gentiles under sin, but by the end of chapter three he extended this equality into the realm of salvation. For starters though, the Jews and Gentiles are mired sin and separated from God.

In spite of sin that alienates people from God, God is faithful to offer salvation as a gift through Christ. Nevertheless, God's patient and redemptive acts do not give anyone an excuse to continue sinning. God will fulfill his promise and bring salvation to Jew and Gentile alike, but there is a stern warning that judgment will come to those who persist in sin. Therefore, Paul tells his readers to use the law to become conscious of sin, but to have faith in God for their salvation.

Therefore, whether or not someone has the law, the verdict is the same, but so is the way out. God's salvation is not dependent on the law or whether or not someone has any kind of religious or ethnic credentials. I'm particularly taken with the thought that God is not only just, but also the one who justifies. God is essentially clearing the path for whoever wants to believe in him rather than setting up standards to be met. FULL POST

In Mark 7 Jesus traveled to the Gentile region of Tyre and the Decapolis, respectively west and east of Jewish Galilee. While in Tyre Jesus tried to keep a low profile, but the news about him spread and a woman boldly sought him out in the home where he was staying.

We don't know much about this woman. Did she have a husband or was she a widow? Did she come alone because no one else she knew believed in Jesus or wanted anything to do with this Jew? In addition, she didn't bring her daughter with her, and we only read that she begged Jesus to drive out the demon, not that he should go with her to heal her daughter. What does this tell us about her faith?

In one of the only times Jesus denied someone who wasn't a religious leader testing him, Jesus told her that now was not the time for the Gentiles to enjoy God's favor. That wasn't to say that it couldn't happen some day, but he told her that at the moment she was on the outside of God's work. FULL POST

Isn't it easy to read that statement and be cynical-oh, yes, that's definitely true of me! And if you think I'm implying that you'll become a world-renowned celebrity, I agree; that is unlikely to happen (unless you're planning to gate-crash the White House!). But consider this:

Mary was an ordinary young woman, yet God saw her heart and had so much more for her.

Joseph was a simple carpenter whose heart was also in tune with God. The consequence: He had so much more for Joseph. FULL POST

Bill Thrasher

Peter was a delightful student from Edinburgh, Scotland, whom God sent to study at Moody Bible Institute in 1981. He also became a dear friend. After he completed his studies at Moody, he went on to graduate school in the Chicago area. During this time we frequently met on Friday nights, usually exhausted from the week. Our first agenda was to go eat a good meal together. Afterward we would take long walks and pour out our hearts in prayers. During those Friday nights the Lord taught me some special lessons about prayer.

I experienced the same help in college when a group of students would meet each day before lunch. Then as a student in graduate school, I found great aid from the prayer meeting I hosted each night in my dorm room. The graduate program I teach at Moody requires each student, staff person, and faculty member to have a prayer partner to assist them in their own personal prayer lives. Each student is also required to be a part of a small group each semester that is under the direction of a faculty member. Would you say that some of the most precious fellowship you have experienced in church has been in united and genuine prayer? I have such fond memories of a small church plant where every week we devoted our entire Sunday evening service to prayer.

As Jesus faced the crisis of going to the cross, He chose to face it with His closest human associates to "keep watch" with Him in prayer (Matthew 26:37-38). Even though they let Him down, the principle of companionship is certainly upheld. The Bible clearly affirms the blessing and need of godly companionship. "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). Further, FULL POST

Ming came to me one day in great discouragement as he told me about his ministry. He was in his late fifties and had left his career in chemical engineering to study for the ministry.

While interning at a local church, he visited a lady in the hospital who was very sick and also very bitter. She informed him in no uncertain terms that she did not desire a visit from him or anybody else from the church. Ming responded and asked her, "Could I please pray for you?" She reluctantly said, "OK, if you want to." Ming related to me that as he attempted to pray all he could do was cry. His tears were the only prayer that he could muster.

Ming was reporting this as if it were a failure. He obviously wanted some reassurance. He was probably thinking, I left my career, I'm fifty years old, I'm studying for a Masters in Bible, and all I could do was cry when I tried to pray for this lady. What we later learned is that the lady opened her heart to Ming and the Lord. God began to deal with her bitterness, and her health dramatically improved. FULL POST

What is prayer?

O. Hallesby, one of Norway's leading Christian teachers, said that prayer is an attitude of our hearts toward God. It is an attitude of helplessness. This attitude of helplessness is not meant to drive you to anxiety but rather to drive you to God. In other words, prayer is helplessness plus faith. We may stumble over this until we realize that faith is simply coming to Christ with our helplessness. When we petition God in prayer, we come to Christ and tell Him what we and those for whom we pray are lacking. It is opening up our needy lives to Him.

Let us be very specific in defining some of our "needy moments" that promote this attitude of helplessness that can give birth to true prayers. Let us look at times when we tend to be fearful and anxious. FULL POST

In Romans 12 Paul pleads with his audience of Jews and Gentiles to offer themselves to God as holy, living sacrifices. Up to this point in the epistle much has been said about faith, about God's merciful salvation, and the new resurrection life found in Christ. However, for those who desire to live in the freedom of Christ, there is the necessary giving up of self that must follow.

This is where Romans 12 digs into the implications of dying with Christ. Those who die with Christ are offering themselves to God, much like Jesus offered himself to the Father.

An offering of self is far more costly than we may have ever imagined. The rest of Romans 12 calls believers to use their gifts, to love one another deeply and sacrificially, and to treat enemies with kindness and respect. This is impossible for those committed to their own preservation and reputation. FULL POST