stevesbasics.blogspot.com
The Radical Reformer: July 2015
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Tuesday, July 28, 2015. Three Meditations on the Death of a Friend. Tim Bass by Tinidril. Each body is a tiny universe. Each soul its own nation. Complexity, contradiction, conflict. Wrapped within a weakened unity. Who dare unravel the depths of a person? What book written completes the hidden? The death of one is a genocide,. A grave tragedy the angels decry. Who dismisses such a loss? Who among the wise dare take it lightly? He ma...
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The Radical Reformer: April 2015
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Thursday, April 30, 2015. Based on a true story. Names have been changed. Then Trevor had a bad day. They didn’t come often, but when he had them, he was on the edge of exploding. On this day, Darren happened to come upon him and told him firmly that he had to clean up his garbage. Trevor started throwing all of his possessions at Darren, screaming, “How about this? I’m going to hurt you! You know I will! Trevor knew that he would be...
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The Radical Reformer: October 2014
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Friday, October 31, 2014. Five Timeless Heresies of the Church. For Reformation Day, when Martin Luther's 95 theses against the church mis-doctrine of indulgences are celebrated, I want to remind us of a few ways the church continues to misguide us all. The church has the right to oppress heresies or immoralities. The church is a place of safety from the world. Church leadership is a means of gain. Oppression of the church. But even ...
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The Radical Reformer: February 2015
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Thursday, February 26, 2015. We read Romans 5, “ Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. 8221; (Rom 5:3-4). And Paul in Acts, “ Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 8221; (James 1:2-4). Suffering benefits no one if it disregards our responsibility. Suffering benefits no one if it excuses our tendency to cause others to suffer. This article is part o...
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The Radical Reformer: Mending the Divide: Homosexuality in the Bible, Two Views
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Mending the Divide: Homosexuality in the Bible, Two Views. This blog post proposes to solve all the problems of homosexuality in the church. After this, there will be no questions, no problems, and peace and harmony will rule and Jesus will return. Well, maybe not. The first issue is one I have long wanted to resolve: Which acronym should we use? View #1: Traditional view—The act of homosexuality is a sin.
stevesbasics.blogspot.com
The Radical Reformer: January 2015
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Not every person or aspect of culture has this ability to adapt and change. Most of us have certain abilities and so we are insisted upon to fit into the normative culture as it exists. Since most people have the ability to adapt to things as they are, they do. But not everyone has that opportunity. For instance, the homeless. But what if that environment changed? The development organization doesn’t ...
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The Radical Reformer: September 2014
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Sunday, September 7, 2014. A Brief Biblical Theology of Generosity. Biblical theology is the ideas that the Bible itself contains. In every section of the Bible, generosity is commanded, lauded and displayed. Rare is such an ethical theme so consistently and regularly upheld. Here is a sampling of this theme, and some of the strong affirmations:. History—I Samuel 25. Wisdom—Proverbs 28:8, 27. The wealthy among the congregation is see...
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The Radical Reformer: Discovering the Delicate Deception of Mammon
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Sunday, August 2, 2015. Discovering the Delicate Deception of Mammon. If we have two coats (or the means to buy another), see a person with none and do not give it, then our god is probably Mammon. If a poor person comes to the door and we do not even offer some food to them, then our god is probably Mammon. If we use the local non-profit as a place to dump our garbage, then we are our god is probably Mammon. One Big Happy Family.
stevesbasics.blogspot.com
The Radical Reformer: December 2014
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Sunday, December 14, 2014. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility": Our Demand for the Superhero Fantasy. Yes, this post is my Spider-Man post. I am Menno. I am Nerd. Hear me roar. So if the ancient myths and superheroes fulfill different purposes, then why do we have them? Why are they the most popular form of pulp fiction today? Today, we are re-examining our authority structures and realizing that they are not all their propa...
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The Radical Reformer: Interesting Conversation
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Important but challenging meditations, applying Jesus to everyday life. Thursday, August 13, 2015. PD: You are letting people stay in the park. Me: No, the park is public and they can stay there. PD: You should tell them to move. Me: I will absolutely tell them to move. As soon as there is a legal option for them to sleep somewhere else. PD: They could go to Dignity Villiage (a local, legal tent city). Me: DV has a year-long waiting list. PD: I don't know them offhand, but I could get them. PD: Then why ...