Preaching from the 98 Percent

A few days ago I came across a forum thread about Bugs Bunny. The thread explained that Bugs Bunny's calling of Elmer Fudd as "nimrod" was actually a nod to the Bible's Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Another post went on to say that Bugs' affinity for carrots was actually a nod to Clark Gable's character in "It Happened One Night." I could imagine parents back then getting the hidden meaning behind both references much like I do know as a parent watching some of the movies my children want to watch. I chuckle a bit and relish the opportunity later to let them in on the secret so they can have the same chuckle when they re-watch the movie later. I can also see that as time passes and less and less of those callbacks are recognized they begin to take on their own meaning. For instance, because of Elmer Fudd's inability to bag the coveted gray hare he's chased for years, the term nimrod has become more synonymous with an imbeci...

Some time ago I was reading Matthew 2, which is the story of the Magi. As I read through it I was expecting to hear about them being told about the sign that would appear showing them the savior was born or that they would be told to take gifts as we know the story plays out, but it wasn't written that way in Matthew at all and as I read it I had seen it in whole new way. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” I saw that it started with them just having seen the star and having already traveled to Bethlehem and asking where the newborn king was. That got me wondering where I had heard the backstory that knew so I went to check a 365 chronological bible I have that aligns and interweaves the gospels together from the multiple authors thinking it may have been from a different telling of t...

 For some time I've had this desire to begin sharing what comes to mind as I read my Bible and/or other thoughts that come to mind as I'm listening or watching a preacher speak. I've been wrestling with what to call it, how and when to launch it. But most importantly, I've struggled within myself on whether or not to move forward with it at all. I mean, who would listen to an average Joe who's sharing his walk with Jesus. Then one day I'm scrolling through Instagram and come across a post from Long Hollow church. In it the pastor points out that the Apostles didn't have Bibles, no religious schools or buildings, no churches, no equipping  tracks or many of the things that many modern churches have and yet they turned the world upside down, and in that moment I felt that stirring to write come up once again. But still, what to call it? To explain that there are a few things. This desire to share has always come from a place to show that we all have a place in...