Category Archive: STUMBLING BLOCKS

A better response to suffering

Unbelievers and skeptics of theism often cite the reality of seemingly gratuitous suffering in the world as grounds for rejecting the notion of a good, all-powerful God. But what if it could be… Continue reading

Obstacles, objections, and obviousness

I’m on a mission…a mission from God. ‘Cause “I have seen the light!” Oh, Jake and Elwood. I hope Jake…John…is still doing backflips on account of he has literally seen THE Light, and… Continue reading

The scandalous cross

This was originally posted last April. It’s like wearing a tiny electric chair on a chain. That’s how a pastor at our church once described the offense of the cross of Jesus Christ.… Continue reading

Do Christians consume Christ?

…where I seek to provide some food for thought from Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse in John 6. Are Christians cannibals? Some curious first-century onlookers thought so. The word was going around that… Continue reading

The hiddenness of God

Hey. Did you miss me? Sometimes I long for my elementary school days when summertime was all about sleeping in and having fun. Summer is a busy season for me now. But enough… Continue reading

Do we have a better word?

I was 31 years old before I ever cracked open a Bible, even though I was raised in a Christian denomination that professed it to be the inspired Word of God. But until… Continue reading

Don’t believe everything you see

If there is a God who created us, how would you expect him to reveal himself? Since sight is one of, if not the primary way we humans take in information, we naturally… Continue reading

Revelation in text

Walking alone through a cemetery at 2 a.m. was not in her plans for the evening. How she found herself there is a story in itself, but suffice it to say that she… Continue reading

The man who would be toast

What do you suppose is the most important question you will ever have to answer: Will you marry me? Do you know why I pulled you over? Do I feel lucky? Certainly the… Continue reading

Oh, those crazy Christians

A year or so ago I was interacting with an atheist blogger, and after reading his list of objections to faith in God I boldly asserted my intention to answer each of them.… Continue reading

The scandalous cross

It’s like wearing a tiny electric chair on a chain. That’s how a pastor at our church once described the offense of the cross of Jesus Christ. He was talking about how something… Continue reading

Is there such a thing as original sin?

I can think of little else more horrifyingly unjust than to send an innocent child, a newborn even, to an everlasting, godless existence in hell. A babe just out of the womb, or… Continue reading

Dyn-o-mite!

As a catch phrase for a 70s sitcom character, “Dyn-o-mite!” meant something akin to “Cool,” but with a little more oomph. Those of you who are old enough to remember (unlike me, who… Continue reading