Check out my top blog posts from last year. The comments feature on these posts are still open, so feel free to leave a note. The top ten posts for 2013 are:
Which is your favorite? Are there other posts you really liked?
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Learn more about the Bible from ABibleADay.com — and have a Happy New Year!
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Last year, my church encouraged us to read the entire Bible as a congregation. I’m pleased to report that not only did I complete that goal, but I also finished early.
I celebrate my accomplishment and all that I learned about God in the process, but I’m also glad to put the task behind me.
Reading three or four chapters a day is simply a faster pace than I presently enjoy. Not that this was always the case.
I was a teenager the first time I read the entire Bible. By spending an hour a day, I read straight through from Genesis to Revelation in two and a half months during summer break.
This did much to help me see the Bible as a whole and not in disparate parts. I also saw the story arc from Adam to John, or more correctly, from creation in Genesis 1 and 2 to re-creation in Revelation 21 and 22.
Annual Bible Reading Goals
For many years since that time, I set an annual goal to read the entire Bible (which takes about 12 to 15 minutes a day). A few times, my annual plan was to read just the Old Testament (about 10 to 12 minutes a day).
Most years, however, I read through the New Testament (about 3 to 4 minutes a day – unless you want to take time to study and ponder the text).
Lately, my plan for the year has been to read through the Psalms on Sundays and focus on specific books or genres during the week. Yes, I take a break on Saturdays.
This is a rhythm that works best for me, and I’m excited to reclaim it for next year.
The point in sharing this is to encourage you to set a Bible reading goal for next year. The quantity isn’t the point but habitually directing our attention to God is.
If these are too big a bite for you to take, start small with a monthly reading plan.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Each day we make hundreds of decisions, such as getting on a bus or getting off a bus. Some of those choices have lifelong consequences.
Such is the case with Ben Walker (Kevin Sorbo) in the movie What If…. His bus ride sent him on a path in the wrong direction, away from his love Wendy Walker (Kristy Swanson) and the life they planned together.
Fifteen years later, Ben is given a look at the life and love he gave up because of that one bus trip.
What if…he had never gotten on that bus? Things would be completely different. He likes his life now, not the one he turned his back on and the family they could have had.
What if…he could do it over again? Would he? Should he? Can he?
What if… is a delightful tale of contrasting options between what seems attractive and what could be more satisfying. But is it too late to choose? You’ll need to watch What if… to find out.
[Read more reviews by Peter DeHaan of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Yesterday was Christmas, a time to celebrate Jesus. Many people went to church to acknowledge the Christ behind Christmas and even more celebrated Jesus in other ways. For my family, the day marked the last of four celebrations.
Now Christmas is over. We put it behind us for another year.
Yet long ago, Isaiah looked forward to Christmas, anticipating what was to come with these familiar words:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
For people who follow Jesus, Christmas is a time to celebrate his birth. Yet Christmas is under attack. Some want to turn it into Xmas, others try to band its mention, and others say it doesn’t matter because we’ve already sufficiently removed Jesus from it.
The reaction from Christ-followers is understandable, but the battle is already lost. Consider our Christmas traditions.
How many of them connect with biblical Jesus? Not twinkle lights, mistletoe, garland, snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer, crackling fires, or hot chocolate.
Not sending cards, decorating trees, drinking eggnog, lighting candles, ringing bells, eating ham, stuffing stockings, baking cookies, or wrapping presents.
Even the date is off base; it’s highly unlikely Jesus was born in the winter, but a time of year when traveling for the census made more sense.
True, some of these traditions do hold meaning, but the sentiment is manmade, not Bible-based. How we celebrate Christmas has little connection with his birth.
Here are the only things I could come up with that actually seem to focus on Jesus:
A Nativity Scene
A manger scene is a fine reminder to that earlier time and the real reason for the season.
A Tree Topper
An angel or star atop the tree reminds us of the angels announcing his arrival and the star the magi saw. But nothing else on the tree, not even the tree itself, connects directly with Jesus.
Christmas Carols
Though the list grows smaller each year, some of the Christmas songs we sing actually mention Jesus’ birth.
Gifts
What about gifts? The magi gave gifts to Jesus, not other people. To follow their example means giving gifts to God, not family and friends. Or what about the “gift” of Jesus?
The real gift was not Jesus’ birth but his victory over death. That would be Easter, another holiday we must fight to protect.
Before you call me Scrooge or Grinch, let me assure you, I am not. I love Christmas because I love Jesus. My goal is for us to refocus Christmas on what truly connects with Jesus and make all other things secondary.
A Birthday Cake for Jesus
Several years ago, my wife began a practice of making a birthday cake for Jesus. We even sing “Happy Birthday”; some years there are candles.
This may seem corny, but it does actually force us, if even for a moment, to focus on the birth of Jesus—and that’s the purpose of Christmas.
Happy birthday, Jesus!
Celebrate Christmas in a fresh way with The Advent of Jesus. It’s a forty-day devotional that prepares our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in an engaging read. Begin your Advent journey now and gain a greater sense of wonder for the season.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
For my first ten years as a parent, I struggled to pray for my children. Oh, I did pray for them but not regularly, not every day.
This changed when someone gave me a list of twenty-three traits to pray for my children. The items included that they would fall in love with God’s word, have a heart for missions, love others, for their future spouse, and so forth.
Each morning I’d ask God to instill in them one of the characteristics on the list. After twenty-three days, I’d start over.
Just when the list started becoming routine, I bought a prayer card that provided thirty-one items, mostly different from the first list.
For the past twenty years I’ve switched between these two resources, each day asking God to instill in my children one of the traits on the list.
But I didn’t just pray for my kids.
The first additions to the list were their friends. Not only did I desire God-honoring children, but I also wanted them in the company of godly friends.
In later years, I likewise prayed for those they dated, and then college roommates, and finally their spouses.
With my kids’ marriages came the prospect of grandchildren, so I added my future grandkids to my daily prayers. It wasn’t that I urged God to rush them.
Instead, I prayed that when they did arrive, they, too, would possess these same godly characteristics.
It’s one thing to pray in faith for future grandchildren, but soon God prompted me to expand my vision, to include my future great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren: the next four generations.
While it’s feasible I may one day see my great grandchildren, it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever see my great, great grandkids – at least not in the physical realm.
After my first grandson arrived, God prompted me for even more. Now my prayers are paving the way for the next ten generations. It’s hard to comprehend, but I pray by faith, expectant for amazing results.
Even more, I suspect that before my life is over, God will tell me to pray beyond the next ten generations.
In addition to praying for my offspring, I’ve also included my niece and nephews, my closest friends, people I mentor, and missionaries I support.
I share my prayer practices with much trepidation. I don’t want to call attention to myself, but I do want to encourage everyone to pray for their children, both those seen and those unseen.
May you pray it forward. Start today.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
A curious phrase pops up in the book of Joel: holy fast.
A Holy Fast
A fast is going without something, such as food, to draw closer to God. By implication it should be a holy act, so why does the prophet Joel make a point of specifying a holy fast?
I wonder if it might be because the people lost sight of why they were fasting. Perhaps they were going through the motions and forgot the God focus of their fast.
When done for the right reasons, a fast is a physical denial that elevates our spiritual awareness. When done for the wrong reasons, a fast is a physical denial that just makes us feel deprived, forgoing any spiritual benefit.
An Unholy Fast
I guess that would make it an unholy fast, secular and meaningless.
If You Fast
If you practice the discipline of fasting, may it be for the right reasons. If you’ve not experienced a fast, I encourage you to consider it.
Either way, may you fast well, may it be a holy fast.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
I thought my son had left for work, so he surprised me when he bopped into my office. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’m all right, but…” He went on to say that hornets stung him as he opened his car door.
He showed me the top of his head to prove the severity of their attack. Their nest, we discovered, hung only inches over where he once stood while getting into his car.
After confirming he was indeed okay, he headed off to work, and I planned what to do. That night as dusk descended, I emptied a can of hornet spray into their nest. They buzzed with anger as the poison killed them.
I felt only slight guilt over destroying an entire hive because of what a couple hornets did. After all, it wasn’t a few insects going rogue but the result of an instinct they all bore. Surely, more attacks would follow if I didn’t take decisive action.
Just like the hornets, the things we do can affect those we are aligned with.
Consider the groups, associations, and classes we are part of. If one member does or says something stupid, everyone who is like them can suffer as a result. We are all guilty by association.
This includes political parties, religions, ethnic groups, races, movements, companies, clubs, churches, schools, and so forth.
On September 11, 2001, nineteen men committed an act of terrorism. As a result, one billion people “like” them were maligned, distrusted, and threatened.
It didn’t matter that these nineteen were radical extremists and not representative of the rest of the group, everyone still suffered.
What about the actions of certain protestors or the antics of militants? Everyone who is part of their cause, whether present or not, becomes viewed through the same lens. S
ociety sees everyone associated with them through negative eyes.
Of course, there’s an upside to this as well. By our positive actions and careful words, we can elevate everyone in our group.
May we all aspire to that goal.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
