The Idolatry of Impact
A few years ago, I published, The Impact of Intimate Theology. My point was that belting out worship songs is, at most, only a shadow of true worship. …
Worship
Why Did Jesus Come THEN?
God forbids us to have anything to do with idols. His prohibition against foreign gods is the single most repeated command in all of Scripture: But we …
Grasping for Significance
Four years ago, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The treatment involved five uncomfortable (and humiliating!) procedures. On the other hand, I …
Modern Worship, Cocaine Rushes, and Healing
A friend of mine calls himself a “recovering charismatic.” He thinks the gifts of the Spirit are still active today, but he believes the worship …
Hidden Worship
In 1930, ninety-four years ago, legendary economist John Maynard Keynes wrote an essay detailing his expectations for the upcoming standard of living …
We Are All Addicts
Cynthia Heimel was a writer who lived in New York in the 70’s. She knew actors and artists before they became famous, while they were still bussing …
Clones and Drones and Spiritual Self-Worship
I once worked with a man who had two passions: a love for model planes and a love for writing. He formed a publishing company to produce a magazine …
Selling Our Soul for a Fleeting Salvation
Last week I read a puzzling passage in Hebrews. So baffling it even felt (if I can write this without being struck dead by a bolt of lighting), it …
The Worldly Deceit of Willpower
In 1975, three friends and I participated in a 200-mile bicycle marathon on Belle Isle, an island-park owned by the city of Detroit. The course was a …
When Helping God is Lethal
I have an atheist friend who hates the Bible because of the Old Testament: the violent wars, people struck dead, and idea of a fearful God. He doesn’t …
I Was Mortified
I wrenched my back last spring. I don’t know how I did it, but certain movements sent firebolts of pain down my spine. I couldn’t even lean over to …
The Measure of Our Lives
Years ago, an entrepreneur I barely knew asked if we could meet. He was an aggressive businessperson, a roaring lion among his peers. Yet on the …