WWWJD What Wine Would Jesus Drink?

Part 2 In my last post, I asked the question, “What kind of wine did Jesus drink?” As I said then, we really have no reason to think that Jesus drank wine any different from wine today, fermented grape juice at about 9-12% AOC. For many Christians around the world, this question is itself unnecessary, […]

What kind of wine did Jesus drink?

I heard this question again recently, and because it still comes up in some circles, I thought I would give a sincere answer on my blog… What kind of wine did Jesus drink? What was the alcohol content? This could seem straightforward to some, but there are some cultural reasons why it may not […]

Depression in Ministry

Ministering while depressed feels a bit like going to an orchestra concert with earplugs in your ears. Life and ministry go on, but it is not entirely felt or experienced as others might be experiencing it. I remember a time when nothing seemed to calm my difficulty with anxiety. I tried praying more, reading more, […]

The Church and flourishing among the perishing

(above: demolition of a large Catholic church in Montreal) Over the last two weeks I have witnessed some powerful perspectives in the church… in Montreal… in our modern times. I’ve sat in on meetings with the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, Visited a Catholic community meeting in the basement of building they had to sell, Participated […]

Two Altars

It is an image etched into my mind. The preacher finishes preaching. He calls the song leaders to the front of the church and we all stand up. He invites… he beckons with his hands… and ultimately he pleads us to come. Where? To slip out of our seat and down to an altar in […]

Did Jesus die because God was mad?

There is a deep powerful idea at work in the church today. It responds to the question: Why did Jesus die and how does it relate to us? The answer might surprise you. This idea is called Penal Substitutionary Atonement Theory. In short, it says that Jesus died on the cross as a punishment (penal) […]

Could you say “no” less, and say “yes” more?

I’ve been sabotaged. As I near the end of my 30s, I’m realizing that my tactics for saying “no” are less and less effective. First, my four sons are growing older and my boundaries and authority are wearing thin. And, I want them to develop a healthy sense of autonomy too. But now others are […]

Bending Cynicism into Hope

From a sermon given February 2015 at St. Peter’s Anglican Church Readings Gen 9:8–17 (Covenant with Noah); Ps 25:1–9 (In you, Lord my God, I put my trust); 1 Peter 3:18–22 (Christ brings us to God); Mk 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm) Introduction Dick Keyes, in his book Seeing Through Cynicism, illustrates cynicism by way […]

Go on and love yourself for God’s sake!

Do you love yourself… for the sake of others? Do you love yourself… for the sake of God? Around 900 years ago, a French abbot asked exactly that. And, it still makes sense today. Bernard was twenty-two when he walked into the monastery of Cîteaux in Dijon, France. Three years later, he would help establish […]

The Speck in the President’s Eye

Last week many Christians were offended when the president, at the National Prayer Breakfast, compared Muslim violence to historic Christian violence, namely the Crusades, the Inquisition, and Jim Crow laws. Many pointed out the connection (or disconnection) between core Christian commitments and actions, ergo violence done in the name of Christianity can hardly be considered […]