By David Faust Do you ever experience déjà vu—the eerie feeling that you have seen or experienced something before? Here’s a provocative idea: Have you ever experienced vuja de? That’s the ability to look at something familiar as though you have never seen it before. In his book Seize the Vuja De (Missio Nexus, […]
The Lesson and Life — for July 7, 2013
By Dennis Messimer About 15 years ago at a conference in South Africa, we were told about acongregation high up in the Drakenberg Mountains, which had split. A second building had been built about 150 yards from the first building. The plea was made to have the local authorities lock both buildings until they […]
Restoring Joyful Worship–The Uniform Lesson for June 30, 2013
By Sam E. Stone Continuing this quarter’s theme, “God’s People Worship,” we now turn from Isaiah to two other helpful resources—the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Along with the book of Esther, these two writings form the closing section of Old Testament history. They tell of the Jews’ return from Babylon, the rebuilding of […]
The Lesson and Life — for June 30, 2013
By Dennis Messimer Recently we were at our friend Jim’s house, enjoying homemade ice cream. Among the guests were several international students. Jim asked a student from Taiwan how people in Taiwan worshipped. Soon we heard an explanation that included incense burning and “god money.” Then Jim asked the student if he worshipped here […]
Driving into Smoke–Luke 5
By David Faust I once had a frightening dream in which I was driving a car through a crowded street. In my dream it was late at night, but the car’s lights wouldn’t work. I was barreling along at high speed through the darkness, trying to maintain control, but I couldn’t see where I […]