Go Dog Go was one of my favorite books as a boy, and it was so fun reading it to my kids when they were little. I especially loved the dog party at the end of the book and often pointed to trees with a similar shape and said to the kids, “Dog Party!” When […]
Theodicy is a composite of the Greek words theós (God) and díkē (justice). It means “the justice of God,” “to justify God,” or “the justification of God.” It was coined over three hundred years ago to describe an attempt to give assurance that evil and suffering don’t conflict with the goodness of God. But, for […]
Issuing from our suffering and despair are cries and wails that pound on the gates of heaven. And when heaven appears to be mute or without an answer, you ask yourself, why can’t God hear the ones he commanded to pray? The overwhelming character of our pain makes a child-like love and trust of God […]
Here’s a partial list of books I compiled for my adult children. I draw from a wide array of voices. Regarding Theology, my habit of reading footnotes and bibliographies paid off as I’ve been blessed by writers in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Reformed, and Pentecostal traditions. If I had to choose just one […]
“I do not think that many Jews would object if the Messiah — when he comes — is the Jew Jesus.” David Flusser, professor of religious history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem “Every Jew should be proud of the fact that Jesus is our brother, flesh of our flesh and blood of our blood. We […]
When we moved to Jerusalem in 2016, we were vaguely familiar with Isaiah’s description of Jerusalem as a furnace (Isaiah 31:9). It wasn’t until we lived there for a few years that we understood why. Besides having the most disputed real estate in the world, it’s also ground zero for the Gospel. Israel is intense, […]
In 2004, I (Jimmy) was in a men’s group and received a copy of a book by Steve McVey called “Grace Walk.” It was the story of a burned-out Southern Baptist Pastor and his liberation from religion. I began reading McVey’s blog and, being a curious, diligent researcher, when he made an obscure reference to […]
Last month, two of the most significant earthquakes in decades rocked Central and Southern California. I was with my brother and his family during both earthquakes. They were long and exhilarating and lasted at least a minute. The damage would have been more extensive if the epicenter had been in a major city. Sometimes, seismic […]
“It is a healthy thing, now and then, to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted” ~ Bertrand Russell Questioning things you’ve always believed is good exercise. It can result in a more strengthened belief or a gradual deconstruction. The process can be challenging if you derive your sense […]
So, how does Israel bear witness to God today? From our perspective, please consider the following: Israel is an object lesson that confirms God’s ongoing covenant of grace with Israel and the World. The God revealed in the Hebrew scriptures keeps His word and promises. Israel’s death, resurrection & return to their ancient homeland is […]
There is a strong and increasing undercurrent of anger and incivility in the United States, and many believe it could eventually lead to civil war. It’s difficult to fathom another civil war with local militias and armed clashes in the streets, States rising against other States. But the division, anger, and hatred in the United […]
Israel’s food and wine scene are world-class, but we wanted to help highlight a few of the hidden gems. So, during the summer of 2018, I (Jimmy) produced 2 episodes of an American Food & Travel television program, Dine out along the Road, for our good friend Ray O’Canto. Before Ray’s arrival, we set out to […]
Regarding our last seven months in Israel… there is quite a lot to say, and we hope you take the time to read this to the end. Since it’s Christmas time, we want to know if you remember what it was like when you believed in Santa Claus or if you ever believed. If you […]
Living in Israel is sort of what I imagine the American Frontier was like. The rule of law exists, but there is a lot of lawless behavior… gunfights, murders, and a potential for violence that sort of hangs in the air like dust kicked up by a buffalo stampede. Becky and I were living in […]
Once we had a firm commitment that Ray O’Canto was coming to Israel to film his television show “Dining Out Along The Road,” we set out to arrange and produce something unforgettable. We wanted to expose Ray and his US Audience to some of the best food and wine in Israel but also to help […]
Becky and I moved to Jerusalem in 2016 to begin a new chapter in our lives. We wanted to participate in the historically unprecedented resurrection of the Nation of Israel, the Hebrew language, and the ongoing return of the ancient covenant people to the Holy Land. I will describe some observations and feelings about Jerusalem, […]
The movie “Finding Neverland” is a charming film. About midway through, there’s a heartwarming scene with a beautiful message. It’s opening night for the play “Peter Pan,” and the theatre is packed except for 25 seats secretly kept in reserve by the author of the play, James Barrie, portrayed brilliantly by Johnny Depp. The play’s […]
We arrived in Tel Aviv May 8 and planned to spend the first two weeks helping lead a tour with Josh Brewer and the rest of his team who arrived May 11. We definitely needed some time alone to recalibrate to the atmosphere in Israel and begin our re-entry process. Coming to tour Israel for […]
“Jesus Comes back to the Jews” was the headline in The Times of Israel on January 23, 2017. It described an art exhibit held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem from December 2016 until April 22, 2017, featuring 150 works of art from 40 Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli artists. The title of the exhibit was “Behold […]
As I mentioned last time, it was the Jew Albert Einstein who said the most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible and that light (energy), space-time, and matter are bundled together in relationships. In other words, relationships are behind everything. That God is somehow detached from creation and that the universe […]
Before I summarize the idea of election in Part 5, here’s something unusual. I hope you find it interesting.Joni Mitchell once sang that she didn’t know clouds, life, or love but that it was just their illusions she recalled. With the heart of an Irish poet and a voice as crisp and clear as mountain […]
I ended the last segment with a question about Moses and the Law. How can we understand the relationship between God’s one-sided covenant with Abram with zero conditions and the two-sided covenant 430 years later with 613 requirements?Have you ever noticed the idea of unconditional love can be hard to swallow? It makes some people […]
Picking up where we left off, I think the starting point to answering this question is understanding that God makes covenants, NOT contracts. The covenant between God and Abraham, Issac & Jacob/Israel and their descendants was made within the broader and overarching covenant between God, Noah, his descendants, and all of creation in Genesis 8:21. The […]
The truth is… the question ‘Why Does Israel still Matter?’ can only be asked by a Church that has become utterly alienated from its own origins. Nevertheless, it’s a question that needs to be answered if the next generation of Christians is going to take up the mantle of standing with Israel. The modern State […]
