Perhaps you remember the first instance when you understood a passage in the Bible with more than your own mind--when the words came to life and became incarnate in your imagination. For me, it was a passage I had heard all my life. I could have quoted it. But in that moment, the words spoke in a way that connected the pieces of my life with Scripture like a puzzle. I was hearing what I thought I knew for the first time. The last words became, in a sense, the first words. "Thus it is written . . ." (Lk 24:46 ESV): … [Read more...] about Next Steps for ESN —Scripture
bible study
The Bible Project — A daily engagement with the word of God
In January, I began a daily engagement of the Word/Story of God through The Bible Project. I have found The Bible Project a rich online resource to prayerfully consider and apply "How to Read the Bible" in a number of contexts. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0Szn1yYNedn4FbBMMtOlGN-BPLQ54IH Drawing from the outline on Bridgetown Church's (Portland, OR) website, ESN has provided daily reflections via ESN Facebook and ESN Twitter. … [Read more...] about The Bible Project — A daily engagement with the word of God
After the Election Part 3: Being the Church in a Partisan America
The election is over. Now what? In this series, I use Romans 12 to frame reflections of this presidential campaign and hopefully encourage us to live faithfully as we return to the “ordinary time” of the American political calendar. See Part 1 and Part 2 here. Editor's note: For previous statistical analysis and nonpartisan political reflection from Josh's expertise, see this link. Before the election, we were already living in a partisan and divided country. Republicans and Democrats not only disagreed about … [Read more...] about After the Election Part 3: Being the Church in a Partisan America
After the Election Part 2: Diversity and Unity this Thanksgiving Holiday
The election is over. Now what? In this series, I will use Romans 12 to frame reflections of this presidential campaign and hopefully encourage us to live faithfully as we return to the “ordinary time” of the American political calendar. See Part 1 here. Editor's note: For previous statistical analysis and nonpartisan political reflection from Josh's expertise, see this link. … [Read more...] about After the Election Part 2: Diversity and Unity this Thanksgiving Holiday
The Week After: Post-Election Series Introduction
The election is over. Now what? In this series, I will use Romans 12 to frame reflections of this presidential campaign and hopefully encourage us to live faithfully as we return to the “ordinary time” of the American political calendar. Editor's note: For previous statistical analysis and nonpartisan political reflection from Josh's expertise, see this link. … [Read more...] about The Week After: Post-Election Series Introduction