What can heal the ideological divide in our culture?

Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Preview Have you sensed that there is a widening ideological divide in our American culture? I’ve written about it here on the blog, the sorting of our society. I recently heard someone suggest, however, that only 10% of people hold to the extremes poles of cultural ideology. 80% resideContinue reading “What can heal the ideological divide in our culture?”

The conflicted history of American freedom – Jubilee, Preview

What one word comes to mind when you think of the United States of America?   As I consider the past 250+ years since our nation’s founding, I propose that the one word that most defines our national project is “freedom.”  Consider this famous line from one of our nation’s most important founding documents, the DeclarationContinue reading “The conflicted history of American freedom – Jubilee, Preview”

You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3

Purple Church is just about the church.  The question of the week, however, “How do we allow the love of Jesus to bring peace to America?” is talking about the wider society.  Not just the church. And yet, the inclusion of “the love of Jesus” in the question narrows the answer primarily to Christians. Furthermore, myContinue reading “You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3”

My TV show idea that should replace election debates – 1 Samuel 31—2 Samuel 2:7, Part 5

I have a TV show idea that I think would be a hit.  I would call it The Padded Room.  Here’s how it would work. The set would be a padded room filled with hidden cameras.  Real people will volunteer to enter the room. Once inside, they cannot leave. They can’t get hurt because theContinue reading “My TV show idea that should replace election debates – 1 Samuel 31—2 Samuel 2:7, Part 5”

How a hidden camera can help American Christians improve…Meeting together, Part 3

Imagine you are in a building like a hospital or office high-rise. You’ve just finished an important meeting on one of the upper floors, so you head for the bank of elevators. After pressing the down button, you wait until your elevator is ready, and the doors open. What you see inside surprises you. The elevator is nearly full,Continue reading “How a hidden camera can help American Christians improve…Meeting together, Part 3”

Are you struggling with fear? – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Part 2

Are things in our world getting worse? While politicians boldly declare that crime is on the rise, an FBI report says the opposite: “Not only has violent crime fallen 23% from 2002 to 2022, but also in the past year alone murders fell 6% and violent crime declined 2% overall.” (Source: Time) It can be difficultContinue reading “Are you struggling with fear? – New Year Psalm of Wisdom, Part 2”

Does our culture need to change? – Creating Culture, Part 1

What is a uniquely Christian approach to bringing change our culture?  It’s a big question.  Christians have many opinions about how to answer it.  Often very different opinions.  Before we can attempt an answer to the question, I think we need to examine the question.  The question, “What is Christian approach to changing culture?” assumesContinue reading “Does our culture need to change? – Creating Culture, Part 1”

My American flag experiment – Mark 11, Part 1

I did a little experiment this past fall.  It was a sociological and theological experiment.  At first, I didn’t tell anyone about this experiment.  Not even my wife. I knew that if I told her, the experiment would be shut down fast. To introduce the experiment, I have a question for you.  How many of youContinue reading “My American flag experiment – Mark 11, Part 1”

The graveyard of world superpowers – Ezekiel 29-32, Part 3

This week on the blog we are studying Ezekiel chapters 29-32, which are all prophecies about the destruction of Egypt. In the previous posts, here and here, we learned that God said in chapter 29, that Egypt, a regional superpower was going to be attacked by Babylon, and would never again have a position ofContinue reading “The graveyard of world superpowers – Ezekiel 29-32, Part 3”

Evidence that heretical philosophy might have taken American Christians captive – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 2

How could one man like Adolf Hitler have such sway and influence in German society in the 1930s, to the point where millions of Jews ended up being slaughtered by Germans?  To the point where there was major world war, and nearly the entire German populace supported it, including Christians!  How?  It boggles the mind.Continue reading “Evidence that heretical philosophy might have taken American Christians captive – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 2”