Category: Peter DeHaan News

Peter DeHaan news and updates

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Peter DeHaan News

How Big is Your Tent? A Call for Christian Unity, Tolerance, and Love

How Big is Your Tent

How Big is Your Tent? A Call for Christian Unity, Tolerance, and Love

What’s It Take to Be Welcome in Jesus’s Tent?

The Bible gives us the answers, but most people miss them. And too many clergy spout manmade solutions that miss the mark.

Discover what Jesus said it takes to “go all in” for him. It’s really quite easy. In fact, it’s so simple that some people can’t accept it. Instead of cramming faith into an exclusive box, what we need is a bigger tent. A unity tent, where we accept all Christians.

How Big Is Your Tent?

However, Jesus was a Jew. What about them? And what about other faiths that consider the Bible part of their heritage? Can we invite them into our tent?

Last are the other world religions. Where do they fit? Can our tent hold them, too? Should we make room? The answers will surprise you.

How Big is Your Tent? calls for Christian unity, tolerance, and love. And that makes for a most ambitious tent.

Get your copy of How Big is Your Tent? 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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Peter DeHaan News

Hear Guest Peter DeHaan on the We Are Saved Podcast

We Are Saved podcast

Check Out This New Christian Podcast

I listen to a lot of podcasts. And I started a podcast over a decade ago. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. After a dozen or so episodes I ran out of time. Yet my interest in the medium never waned.

For me, the ideal solution is to make guest appearances on other people’s podcasts!

I’m honored to be a guest on the inaugural episode (episode 1) of the We Are Saved podcast, with my new friend Lyle Perez. Listen to it on iTunes or Podomatic. The whole episode is great, but if you’re short on time, my part starts about 34 minutes in.

In it I tackle two questions:

1. If God is all-knowing, does he know who will be saved and who won’t?

2. Was Moses wrong in his teaching, since Jesus came and made a lot of changes to “the Law?”

These are great questions.

Yep, I was nervous, but I had a blast!

I pray that this podcast will help many people in their walk with Jesus or their journey to him.

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”
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​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Book Release: 52 Churches

A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

Visit fifty-two churches in a year?

Am I crazy? Maybe.

My wife and I spent a year visiting churches, a different Christian church every Sunday. This book is our story.

I’m sure we visited a church just like yours.

And wow, did we learn a lot. Things that will surprise you and make you cringe. And more than a few things that will inspire you.

In 52 Churches, you’ll:

  • Discover the shocking approaches that some churches use.
  • Learn the essential dos and don’ts when you have a visitor.
  • Make sure your church avoids the really creepy things I saw.
  • Uncover traditional church practices that no longer make sense.
  • See what’s not working, and what to replace it with.

You’ll Laugh, You’ll Cry, You’ll Wince.

But 52 Churches isn’t a rip at the modern church or a mean-spirited journalistic exposé. Instead it’s a gift that offers encouragement, hope, and ideas on how your church can thrive and be relevant in today’s culture.

52 Churches is ideal for church leaders, church members, and church outsiders. And if you’re still reading this, it’s perfect for you too.

Get your copy of 52 Churches today!

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Peter DeHaan News

Christmas Presence

Christmas Presence

Christmas Presence: An Anthology from Word Weavers West Michigan

Christmas is a time of reflecting and rejoicing in the greatest gift on earth ever given … Jesus!

The memories of the past and hopes for the future give plenty of ideas to the Word Weavers West Michigan writers to embrace. Discover them in Christmas Presence.

Christmas Presence, by West Michigan Word Weavers

The message they give is that Christmas is meaningless without the Christ child. His presence means everything.

So if you want to prepare your heart for receiving the Christ child once again … each time being special … then may this book serve as a tool to assist in your journey of Advent.

The Christmas Presence anthology features themed short stories, personal essays, poems, and more.

It includes two short stories by Peter DeHaan: one young adult, “Best Christmas Ever,” and the other sci-fi, “Our Future Hope.” Yep, a sci-fi Christmas story.

Get your copy of Christmas Presence 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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

A Year in Review: Top Ten Posts for 2016

Year in Review

Check Out Our Readers’ Favorite Posts for the Past Year

Another year has come and gone, and with it another year of blogging at “Pursuing Biblical God,” with over 100 new posts about God, the Bible, his church, and us.

Here are the ten most popular posts in 2016:

  1. The Truth about Seminary
  2. The Bible Uses a Third Person Omniscient Point of View
  3. 13 Reasons Why I Love the Bible
  4. Are You Spiritually Selfish?
  5. Do We Need to Listen to a Lecture Each Sunday at Church?
  6. Should We Confess the Sins of Our Nation?
  7. 5 Things God Asks of Us
  8. What Does an Eye for an Eye Really Mean?
  9. Can I Pray For You?
  10. Church Is For Girls

Some posts are “evergreen” content, meaning they continue to resonate with people for many years. Here are the ten most read posts of all time:

  1. What Does it Mean to Pray Hard?
  2. Beware of Spiritual Incest
  3. Four Angels in the Bible With Names
  4. Which Gospel Should I Read?
  5. Does God Receive Our Actions as a Memorial Offering?
  6. The Car That Cried Wolf
  7. When Was the Book of Job Written?
  8. Job’s Conclusion
  9. Are We Just Doing Our Job or Getting God’s Attention?
  10. Job’s Daughters

Thank you for stopping by this past year. You helped show that these posts are your favorites.

May you have an amazing 2017. Happy New Year and God bless!

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

Read the New Testament This Year

New year

Learn More about Jesus and His Church

The New Testament of the Bible is a great part of the Bible to read. It starts with a focus on the life of Jesus and moves on to cover his followers after he dies, rises from the dead, and returns to heaven.

Whether you are familiar with the Bible or just starting out, the New Testament unveils most of the essentials, and it provides the foundation for Christianity as it informs how we should live as Jesus’s disciples.

By reading only one chapter a day, Monday through Friday, we can read the entire New Testament in one year. For the average reader this only takes three to four minutes each day.

Can you commit to that?

Join us as we read through the New Testament this year. You’ll be glad you did.

(If you prefer, we also have an Old Testament reading plan, the entire Bible, and monthly Bible reading guides as well.

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

A Year in Review: Top 10 Posts for 2015

Pursuing Biblical God

Here are the ten most popular posts on “Pursuing Biblical God” from 2015:

  1. Does God Receive Our Actions as a Memorial Offering?
  2. If You Have a Message to Share, You Need to Speak Up
  3. Four Angels in the Bible With Names
  4. Do You Arrive at Church Early, On Time, or Late?
  5. The Truth about Tithing
  6. Membership Has Its Privileges: Why We Shouldn’t Join a Church
  7. What Do We Do To Dishonor God?
  8. The Early Church Had a Great Reputation. What Happened?
  9. The Error of Evangelicals
  10. Are You a Christian Pharisee?

In addition to these top ten posts from 2015 here are the top ten posts from prior years that people continued to read in 2015:

  1. Beware of Spiritual Incest
  2. Which Gospel Should I Read?
  3. Book Review: Secrets of the Secret Place
  4. The Use and Meaning of Amen
  5. What Does it Mean to Pray Hard?
  6. What Does it Mean to Give False Testimony?
  7. Book Review: From Times Square to Timbuktu
  8. Book Review: How People Grow
  9. Book Review: Prayer: Conversing with God
  10. Do We Read the Bible with Preconceived Notions?

Thank you for reading these posts and following this blog. May you have a great 2016!

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

Thursday Morning Bible Posts Have Moved to Tuesday

Bible Posts

If you’re here today looking for my regular Thursday morning post about the Bible, it has moved to Tuesdays.

People who study blogs, social media, and Internet things, say that more people read Tuesday posts than Thursday posts. Who would have thought? Since I want more people to see my posts, I’ll try Tuesdays.

By the way, thanks for stopping by!

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

If You Have a Message to Share, You Need to Speak Up

speak up conference

Last weekend I attended the Speak Up Conference in Grand Rapids Michigan. Speak Up is a two and a half day educational and networking opportunity for Christian speakers and writers. As a bonus, it was also a spiritual experience.

Speak Up Conference

In addition to making new friends and reconnecting with existing ones (some of whom regularly read this blog—thank you!), I also learned a lot. The highlight for me was being able to meet agents and acquisition editors to talk about some of my books.

There was much interest in my just completed work Women in the Bible, as well as two others that are awaiting publication.

I also attended several workshops and learned some tips on various topics, such as how to better connect with readers, editing my work, balancing writing and life, interjecting humor into my writing, social media, and developing our writing voice.

As an added treat, two of the sessions were given by friends Amelia Rhodes and Lorilee Craker.

The conference was held on the campus of Calvin College at The Prince Center. Everything was first rate. Some people think of this as a women’s conference, but guys attend as well, even though us males were an unrepresented minority.

If you are a Christian writer or a speaker—or want to become one—I encourage you to consider attending next year’s Speak Up Conference. It will be July 7-9, again at the Prince Center in Grand Rapids Michigan. Maybe I will see you there.

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

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.

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Peter DeHaan News

What’s the Focus of Your Bible Reading?

Bible Reading

Study God’s Holy Scripture

I spent all of last year studying women in the Bible. As the year progressed, my initial list of thirty kept getting longer. By yearend, I had found over seventy-five, and I wrote blog posts for about half of them.

Although I don’t plan on blogging about the rest, I am working on a book on the subject, Women in the Bible. The first draft is almost done, and I’m about ready for some beta readers to review it. When the book is finished, I’ll post a notice here.

For this year, I’m reading the New Testament, starting with the writings of Dr. Luke.

Although we’re a week into the new year, it’s not too late to start a Bible reading plan:

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

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.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.