For the past few weeks, I haven’t been able to get Bryan Adams out of my head.  Every time I sit down to plan ahead for my November sermons, all I can hear is “baby you’re all that I want, when you’re lying here in my arms… I’m finding it hard to believe, we’re in heaven.”  And I suppose therein lies one of the greatest tragedies of the Biblical doctrine of heaven:  it’s been terribly corrupted by the images and descriptions we get of it from the culture around us.  From Plato to Dante, from What Dreams May Come to the Far Side, unbiblical notions of the afterlife have tainted the stunning future reality offered us in the Bible, until, like the cartoon above, it seems impossible for heaven to live up to the hype.  And who can blame people for thinking that way?  Consider the traditional pop culture depiction of heaven:  Read more »

Well, it’s been two years since we began the NewLife blog, so I’d like to take a moment to reflect on how God has used this method of communication and invite feedback from you on what you perceive as its strengths and weaknesses.

My purpose from the beginning with this space was to spend time once a week reflecting theologically on something I had observed, either in the church or the culture.  Read more »

Imagine that it’s your first day in prison.  You’re a first time offender, having committed a non-violent crime, and you’ve been sent to a minimum security prison.  Having had no previous experience with being locked up, you’re not entirely sure what to expect, but from all the movies you’ve seen and books you’ve read, you’re pretty sure you’ll have to be tough, trust no one, and probably make powerful allies.  At some point during your first day, some guy you’ve never met comes up to you and gives you a little package of food and stuff you might need while you’re locked up.  How would you respond?  Surely you’d be suspicious, wondering what the catch might be.  Most likely, you figure, this guy wants you to be in debt to him, so that some day when he needs a favor he’ll come calling.  “No,” he says.  “There’s no catch.  This is just something a few of the Christians in here do to make sure you’ve got some things you might need, and to know there are people in here who will be praying for you and there if you need anything.”  And with that he leaves.

All of a sudden prison just got a lot less frightening, a lot less lonely.

Incredibly, the above story is basically true.  Read more »

Today at sundown marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.  If you’re not familiar with the Jewish calendar and holidays, ten days ago was Rosh Hashanah (see my last Pulse), which began the ten Days of Awe, during which the people of God were to spend time in soul searching and repentance in order to prepare for this most holy day.
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