Beginning in Exile…

emergence-judaism-exile

“1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego” [Daniel 1:1-7]

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To My Muslim Neighbors…

Businessman offering for handshake on dark blue background

Asalamalakum (السلام عليكم‎)

My name is Brady. I’m a pastor. I haven’t studied your faith and religion as much as you likely have studied mine. I have attended several of your prayer services, read portions of the Qu’ran, taken formal, graduate level classes on Islam, and discussed elements of your Hadith. 

I know that, in all likelihood, we don’t think the other one is going to heaven. I also know that if we’re true to our faith, we both want the other to go to heaven. We just disagree on the method of getting there. You have taught me about my own faith, and so I want to say thank you for that.

I also want to say I’m sorry.

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The Divine Champion…

Everyone loves a story about a hero triumphing over evil. It’s part of what we love about movies and television. It’s why books like ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Harry Potter’ are so popular (and not just with young adults). And our love of heroes is why the last 15 years has brought us a slew of comic book inspired movies (Thank God). 12339079_731256146011_2857189078689957566_o

The story of Christ, found in the Gospel of Luke, appears to be written in the same tone as a historical epic. It’s a story of divine power, a savior to the downtrodden and oppressed, and redemption. It’s a story that, if we let it, speaks to our core and inspires us to dare for faith. Here’s why I feel that way.

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What’s my line?

Have you ever been at a church meeting or gathering, and asked for someone to pray? Let me just guess how it went: 80% of the people quickly closed their eyes and folded their hands to indicate their preparedness to pray silently and the other 20% is the pastor or Sunday school teacher.

When I ask someone else to pray, I usually looked at like I had just asked someone to be the lead in a Broadway Play without a script. The reason why they won’t pray is usually the same:

“I don’t know what to say”
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