Next week we’ll be beginning Lent, which looks forward to the Passover/Resurrection Day. Passover, of course, is the celebration of God’s redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt. I think I’ve found the perfect activity for the season–making mudbricks like the ancient Israelites did in Egypt! Today Biblical Archaeology Review gave instructions on how to […]
Speaking is Painting: Why No Translation Can Be “Perfect”
Many of us are frustrated by why no one seems to be able to come up with one perfect English Bible translation. Why are there so many versions? Why can’t we just have one final, best English translation? A major reason is because of one aspect of language that most of us don’t appreciate. When […]
Wow, I met the Swedish Jesus Today…
If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know that I usually start with the famous painting by Warner Sallman of called “The Head of Christ” that has hung in my family’s home since the 1950’s. As much as I’ve loved this image of Jesus, I joke around about the fact that with his blue eyes […]
A Modern Day Passover Sacrifice
We talk about Jesus as the true lamb of Passover, but moderners have a hard time imagining what that means. We have no mental imagery of what a Temple sacrifice ceremony was like. We know that the disciples joined crowds of other worshipers in the Temple to sacrifice a lamb, which they roasted and ate […]
Teaching about Blessing the Lord
Just an update — I’ll be speaking about the rich Jewish prayer traditions that Jesus observed at Grace Church in Granger, Indiana this Saturday (March 16). For more info about the event, see this page. I’m speaking about the chapter in Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus called “For Everything a Blessing.” If you […]
Top Ten Favorite Articles of 2012
Here are readers’ favorite articles from Our Rabbi Jesus: His Jewish Life and Teaching over this past year. Below that I’ve shared a few that were highlights for me personally. I’m glad if my writing has blessed you, and hope to continue as the Lord gives me ability. …Drumroll… 1. What Does the […]
Having a “Kosher Mouth” – A Talk I Gave
Now that the elections are over, we’re all breathing a sigh of relief from the mud-slinging ads. Our ears were practically pickled in the brine of malicious words. This has been on my mind especially lately because I spoke at a conference last weekend on “How to Have a Kosher Mouth.” The talk was about […]
Love your Neighbor…It Can Save Your Life
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many neighbors who hardly knew each other are making friends, huddling together and bailing each other out, quite literally. Many are learning how essential it is to love your neighbor. I read a study a while ago that showed that loving your neighbors (or at least knowing them) can […]
Stop Book Evaporation Syndrome!
If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re a little bookish, like me, and that you appreciate a good church library. So you’ll resonate with my feelings about the conversation I had this past weekend. A few years ago my church had a budget to buy a bookcase full of resources for an in-depth […]
Great Books for Learning to Walk Like Rabbi Jesus
A few weeks ago I wrote a blog called “Good First Reads About Jesus’ Jewish Context” which shared what I’d give to people who are just beginning to learn about Hebraic studies. Many of you wonder what else I recommend. You’d think that the next books I’d suggest would be more history. But discipleship is […]