Dreams Unlocked

We are several months out of even the most limited pandemic restrictions. I cannot remember the last time I wore a mask. When I see someone wearing a mask, it feels nostalgic - a reminder of a strange time when that person was the norm and I - the unmasked one would look strange. Despite the fact that we can break the 6-foot barrier and admire the lower halves of other's faces - I have been surprised at the number of Christians I meet who are just NOW starting to return to live worship services. I understand the lure of the live stream worship experience while sitting at home on the couch - worshipping in sweats and hot coffee in my mug - much more appealing than a hard couch and no coffee. I've also met believers boldly walking away from regular church attendance and proclaiming they can worship God anywhere - including the pickleball court. Nature is my sanctuary. "God’s Spirit and gift of salvation are not defined by church walls. But without an embodied community of be...

Today I salute the important women in my life:  Leela Ninan Felicia Ninan Sophia Ninan.  Mom - loved and supported me. Still loves and supports me.  Felicia - my confidante. How in the world could I navigate my life without your wisdom? Sophia - the brilliant foil to many of my views. You are one of the most brilliant women I know. Your perception and insight are scary at times. 

I had never heard of Asbury University until last week. And now it's all I can think about. On February 8 Asbury University had its regular chapel service. I was educated in evangelical Christian institutions and am familiar with what these chapels consist of: a worship team made up of fellow students lead some contemporary worship songs a speaker - usually a professor or local pastor an administrator makes some announcements And that's it. Reflecting back on bible school and seminary I can't remember many chapels. I remember the one on Tuesday, September 11 for obvious reasons. I remember a few I spoke at or was involved with - but nothing too spectacular stands out in my memory. I watched the sermon and prayer at Asbury on February 8. Rev. Zach Meerkrebs - a young local Alliance pastor preached a rather straightforward sermon on God's love. It was good - but not revival-shaking good. (Or so we all thought!) But his sermon and prayer sparked an awakening on that campus...

the prophet said let justice roll down and i see nothing the prophet talked about streams of righteousness and i see a parched desert we pray Your kingdom come and wonder when we pray Your will be done and wonder when     when will our sons walk unafraid?     when will our girls live unashamed?      who can treat perpetual trauma? what elixir must we mix? waiting patiently miry clay its a trail of brokenness from Golgotha to Memphis and then                    whispers of a stone that was rolled away                    hazy visions of a coming day (of the Lord?) but still I wonder when

Pastor Matt Chandler confessing his inappropriate online relationship with a woman in the congregation. He also announces the board of elders has asked him to not teach and preach for an indeterminate amount of time. A couple of days behind on this one. So, Matt Chandler, mega-church pastor, popular Christian author, and speaker has been asked by his elder board to not teach or preach for a while. And the very large and influential Acts 29 church planting organization he heads has also asked him not to do anything public. (If you want the full story just google his name and several dozen news articles will pop up. Sadly, Chandler's name and his church and ministry will forever be wedded to this moral stumble.) The reason for his very public censure? An inappropriate online relationship between himself and a woman who is not his wife. Apparently, nothing sexual or romantic - but "unguarded and unwise". So much so that his elder board chose to discipline him by asking him t...

Everybody knows there is a problem with our world. Our world is broken. We read about our broken world every day. Not only is the world broken, but we are also broken. We have been hurt by others and we have hurt others. The brokenness in this world is so deep that no human being can mend it. We need power from another, more powerful source. And that help has come to us. God reached down to this broken planet by becoming a man - Jesus Christ.  A man who never did anything wrong. Jesus kept all the laws of God. Jesus Christ died on a cross and when he died, an amazing transfer took place. For those who place their trust in him receive the credit of Jesus’ perfect life and Jesus receives the punishment we deserve for our disobedience of God. Jesus not only died in our place – but he rose from the dead on the third day.  Jesus’ resurrection shows us that the final enemy – death itself has been conquered. The mending of this broken world will not come about by our...