Jeff

What does it mean to be perfect in this life?

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Many people have legitimate objections to the idea of perfection as a goal. But what did Jesus mean when he said, “Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect”? The present-tense imperative has implications for this life. Come and see. (There’s also a story about the photo of Jesus.)

Revisit Galilee (revised)

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A dozen years ago I went with about twenty-five believers on a pilgrimage to Israel and beyond. I was greatly moved to discover how seeing places of Jesus’ ministry enabled me to remember, ponder, interpret, and commune. One thing that I brought back home was a placemat which I have on the dinner table. It … Read more

Jesus’ Scientific Knowledge: Scientific Living and Spiritual Living in the Teaching of Jesus

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The awe of a scientist seeing wondrous beauty in nature

Jesus was not only an idealist. He was also a realist. He had his feet on the ground, and his knowledge of facts was excellent. And excellent knowledge includes some scientific knowledge. I believe that as the human Jesus grew up, he learned to be Watch the 3:50 video or listen to the podcast episode. … Read more

The Treasure in your Field

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The kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found. He covered it up again, and in his joy he went out and sold everything he had and bought that field. What was this treasure in the field? I think it’s what Jesus was talking about when he said, “The … Read more

A man with a funnel in his head

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A few years ago, on several occasions, when I looked out from the window in my study, I would see, across the street, my tall neighbor standing in the middle of his front yard. His little girl, about two years old, was running around in the yard, staying fairly close to him. Every few minutes, … Read more

A workshop, a reflection on truth and love, and a correction

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There is some business that I want to mention at the end of this post, and it connects directly with some of the most important teachings of Jesus. Here is the question that I want to answer today. Jesus taught that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—and our neighbor as ourselves. How does this teaching relate to Jesus’ description of the basic relationship of God and humankind?

With all our strength

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I’ve been on a quest to live–and write about–loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Yesterday I sent to my editor friend a revised section on strength. She discovered weaknesses in it. It didn’t take long for me to realize (this is a pattern) that she had uncovered a fresh, hungry need … Read more

Faith child

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The faith of a little child not only enables us to join the kingdom family of God, it also continues to guide us as we progress. Jesus’s teachings and interactions on this theme are marked by a wonderful simplicity. And the variety of these teachings touches on several concepts that are part of the whole … Read more