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Bible Insights

Have a Good Friday

Happy Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. Happy Good Friday! Seriously.

Today is the day we remember Jesus’ sacrifice so that we could be made right with God. It stands as the ultimate sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

For many people, Good Friday is a solemn day, in which we take time to gratefully recall how Jesus was mistreated, abused, and ultimately killed—for our benefit to make us right with Father God.

The intensity of his suffering is powerfully captured in Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie, The Passion of the Christ. If you’ve not seen it, today would be an ideal time to do so. And if you have seen it, today would be a perfect time to watch it again.

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end with Jesus dying on the cross or even dead and buried in the tomb.

In two days we will joyfully celebrate Easter, commemorating when Jesus overcame death, painting the picture of what is in store for all who follow him.

Easter, better called Resurrection Sunday, remembers Jesus defeating death by rising from the dead.

It is in knowing what happens next, that I can say, Happy Good Friday! Though it wasn’t a happy day for Jesus, it is a happy day for us.

Thank you Jesus for who you are and what you did to save us these many years ago.

Discover more about celebrating Jesus and his passion to save us in Peter’s new book, The Passion of Jesus. It is part of the Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series.

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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Personal Posts

Making New Year’s Resolutions

What Changes Do You Plan to Make?

Happy New Year! From my family to yours, I hope that you have a safe, healthy, and prosperous year. The new year is a time when many people make New Year’s resolutions. 

Common ones include losing weight, saving money, going back to school, finding a better job, improving or getting out of a relationship, being kinder or more generous, drinking less, and so on.

All too often, these well-intentioned resolutions are short-lived. I think that the problem is that people set themselves up for failure.

Let’s assume that in September I step on the scale and decide that I’ll make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Since this is a future goal, I don’t need to worry about it now and can continue eating what I’ve always eaten. 

I know that in four months, I’ll need to change my eating habits and get serious about weight loss, but for now, there are no worries.

The problem is that this gives me four months to further develop and ingrain bad eating habits. 

Additionally, knowing that in the future I will need to be more careful in what I eat emboldens me to eat poorly now—while I still have the chance. 

This only serves to exacerbate the problem in the present and results in more weight to be lost in the future.

A much better approach is to start weight loss efforts as soon as the problem is noticed—in this example, it would have been in September, not January first. 

Aim to Make Ongoing Changes Throughout the Year

This is why I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, as soon as I realize there is something I need to change, I set about doing so right away—before things get worse and while I have the best chance for success. 

I guess this means that I am making resolutions year-round.

If you’ve made New Year’s resolutions, I wish you the best in keeping them. 

However, if you stumble or fall short, don’t give up or defer another attempt until Jan 1 of the next year, just forgive yourself for not following through and start over again!

Happy New Year!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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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Personal Posts

Christmas Recap

  (Back row: Laura & Chris, Dan & Kelli, Front Row: Candy & Peter)

This year our Christmas celebrations began last Saturday with one side of the family, continued Christmas Eve with the other side, and concluded Christmas morning with our kids. 

By 10 a.m., both couples had departed for more family celebrations of their own—but not before snapping this photo.

My bride and I then spent a quiet afternoon napping and watching movies.

I hope that your Christmas was a joyous time, spent with family and friends—along with some time to relax!

But above all, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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.

Categories
Christian Living

What is Christmas to You?

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!

What is Christmas to you? What thoughts first come to mind? What happy memories does this season do you recall?

To some people this special holiday means:

  • parties
  • Santa Claus
  • reindeer
  • mistletoe
  • eggnog
  • buying gifts
  • holiday sales and discounts
  • pine trees and decorations
  • a holiday bonus
  • TV specials and movie releases
  • a few days off from work
  • candy and treats
  • sending cards
  • mouthwatering desserts
  • passing on well wishes to others
  • bells ringing
  • year-end giving
  • snowmen and snow flakes
  • eating and drinking too much
  • time with family and friends
  • carol singing
  • happy childhood memories

You surely related to some things on this list, perhaps all of them. But what is Christmas to you? What does it mean? What is the most important part of it?

These things are all part of what Christmas has become, but have little to do with what it means. Christmas is Jesus’s birthday. Happy birthday Jesus!

Two-thousand years ago, Jesus pointed a new way to God. He came out of love and he came to give.

So when we give gifts to each other on Christmas, it is really a reminder of Jesus loving us and giving himself to us.

In this way, we can keep the true spirit of Christmas alive by following Jesus’ example of loving and giving—and not just at Christmastime, but every day, throughout the year.

Merry Christmas and 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.

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

Categories
Christian Living

May You Have a Happy Christmas!

Remember to Celebrate Jesus’s Birthday As You Give and Receive Presents

From my family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy Christmas as you celebrate Jesus’s birthday.

As you spend this season with family and friends, may your celebrations be joyous and your time together be uplifting.

May you receive the gifts given to you well and even more so seek to give well to others. For it is, truly, better to give than to receive, Acts 20:35.

Regardless of the needs in your life, remember others whose needs are even greater than yours or whose burdens may be heavier than yours. So, despite our circumstances, we are indeed the blessed ones on this earth.

Yes, this is the season to give and to love and to share, but this year let’s extend those sentiments—and the actions they produce—throughout the year. 

If we do so, we’ll keep the Christmas spirit alive in us—and those around us.

May you have a happy Christmas!

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.

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

Categories
Personal Posts

The Queen of Desserts

Yesterday, my bride (aka, the Queen of Desserts) went on a Christmas baking frenzy. The preliminary round occurred on Monday, but the main event was on Thursday, sunup to well past sundown cooking extravaganza.

Sadly, I was fasting and unable to assume my normal role of taste tester. I know that she secretly enjoys me hovering around her, waiting to snatch the first of each batch when its finished product emerges. 

She pretends to be irritated, but without my acute taste buds to assist, how will she know that the results are appropriately delectable? 

Sometimes one sample is not enough to discern the overall quality and desirability, so I will need to try a second…and a third if I can get away with it. 

If she’s not paying attention, a fourth sample may disappear as well, but let’s keep that as our secret.

I’m not sure how she managed yesterday without my much-needed assistance, but by 10 pm, she was frosting the last of the cookies and wrapping up for the day.

Today I plan to make up for the lost time and resume my role as a food inspector. 

In fact, just blogging about it is making me salivate…gotta go!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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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Personal Posts

Celebrating St Patrick

Let’s play word association.  I say “St Patrick” and you might say “March 17,” “shamrock” (three leaf clovers), “Ireland,” “leprechaun,” or “adult beverages” with a green hue. To be cute, you might even answer with an Irish brogue.

Just like Christmas and Easter, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of religious origin, of which the original meaning has been largely obscured over time and altered by rampant commercialization. 

While the meaning of Christmas and Easter is not so completely hidden, the work and person of Patrick is largely unknown.

Let’s clear up some misconceptions. First, Patrick is not really a Saint (that is, not canonized by Rome). He was not Irish (he was English). And the whole thing about ridding Ireland of snakes is most assuredly mere myth.

Patrick did go to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He strategically targeted those in power for conversion, which had a ripple effect throughout the entire population. 

For up to 30 years, he traveled Ireland, promoting Christianity and setting up churches and monasteries. His impact was immense and profound.

It is believed he died on March 17, hence marking the day that we commemorate his life of service and accomplishment—largely by celebrating the myth that surrounds him.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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.

Categories
Personal Posts

Wanna Wok?

A couple of weeks ago my wife took me out for my birthday. The actual date of the event had long passed, but that’s okay; that’s how we do things.

Precise timing is not important to us, as long as it is eventually celebrated. Sometimes we’re several months late, but if it’s within six, it’s all good.

More than six months means we’re no longer late, but actually early for the next year.

Anyway, she took me to one of my favorite restaurants, bd’s Mongolian Barbeque. In fact, as far as restaurant chains go, it is my favorite. (At this point, it’s regional, so if it’s not in your area, why don’t you open one?)

At bd’s, you create your own recipe: select the items you want, in the quantity you want, and watch their grill masters turn it into a stunning stir-fry delight.

Aside from immensely enjoying a birthday treat, I also had a secondary agenda. You see, for Christmas, I was given a super duper deluxe gourmet wok.

My mission was to take more careful notice of how things were done at bd’s, with the intent of doing my own stir-fry thing at home, in my work.

Well, tonight was the night. Although I fell short of duplicating the total bd experience (highly attentive customer service with a touch of attitude from their grill masters), I did create a meal that delighted my taste buds and filled my stomach with contented bliss.

I should have stopped with the first helping and the second one put me over the top. I am so full but still craving one more delicious bite.

Wait a minute. There are leftovers in the frig. Gotta go!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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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Personal Posts

Trimming the Tree

Last week we packed up our Christmas decorations, took down the lights (we couldn’t think of a good place to hang “mood lights“), and over the weekend, we trimmed the tree.

Say, what?

Yes, we trimmed the tree.  The first time we “trimmed” it was to put the lights on.  The second time we trimmed it was to get rid of it!

Yes, we really trimmed it. The tree was about twice as wide as our doorway.  It wasn’t going out the same way it came in, so we had to get creative. 

The bonus was that we enjoyed the tree once more, as it warmed our living room with its cheery glow.

(Kids, don’t try this at home. Leave it to your crazy parents—who know just how dangerous it is.)

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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.

Categories
Personal Posts

The Christmas Five

I gained five pounds over the Christmas holiday—and it’s all my wife’s fault. Really; it is.

A few days before Christmas, she, code named “the Queen of Desserts,” went on a baking spree, producing a bodacious bevy of delectable desserts that would have put a bakery to shame.

Ah! So much to enjoy. So little time.  What was I to do?

First, I attacked the Rice Krispie Treats; soft, tasty and good for you, too.  After all, they’re made of cereal and cereal is good for you, ergo Treats are good for you.  I don’t want to say that I ate them all — so I won’t.

The pecan bars, a personal favorite, caught my eye next.  They were so rich, however, that I invoked a self-imposed two-a-day limit.

Then there were sugar cookies, puppy chow, chocolate chip cookies, macaroon kiss cookies, cheese fudge, ginger bread cookies, and a birthday cake for Jesus. 

After all, Jesus is what Christmas is all about. It sounds a bit corny, but we even sing happy birthday to him. At some point, a light-hearted discussion ensues.

I say that somewhere in the Bible it mentions Jesus likes yellow cake with lemon frosting; my wife assures me his preference is chocolate.

Anyway, until I dispatch the desserts, there is no chance I will lose the five pounds. Right now we are down to the gingerbread man cookies. 

Wait, I want to be politically correct. Let me check. Yes, they are all men! How do I know? By comparing them to the icons on most public restrooms—none of these cookies are wearing dresses!

So, the gingerbread cookies are my least fave, but until they are properly dealt with (a euphemism for eaten), there is little chance of me losing my Christmas five.

Until then, happy snacking!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

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.