How Do We Know Jesus? (Week 1)
I speak about politics, religion, and Denver Broncos football. But, I speak of Jesus. You see, I speak of what I know. Do we really know Jesus? And, what exactly does that mean, anyway? Over the next 3 weeks, I will make three suggestions that I believe are key...
“You’re all Pharisees!”
Dr. Larycia Hawkins was removed from Wheaton College for her “extreme views.” (She donned the Muslim women’s hijab, took a selfie with it on, and equated Allah with God.) Then we invited her to share at Simply Jesus. Between her and Shane Claiborne, well let’s just...
Black lives. White police. Brown Syrians.
It's typically unwise to provide wide-ranging social or political commentary right after a horrible tragedy. The challenge however, is that in our current "tragedy-a-day" world and with 24 hour "news" coverage and social media blaring on our ears non-stop, waiting...
The Key to Everything – Paying Respect to Dr. Kenneth Bailey
A year and a half ago I met with one of my three modern literary mentors, Ken Bailey. (The other two would be N.T. Wright and Dallas Willard). I’d always wanted to meet Ken, and finally, through some serious stalking, I made an appointment with him and ended up in his...
Top 20 Medearis Family Travel Tips
It’s June. That time of year many of us take to the highways and airways in search of a week or two of hiking, sun bathing, or some other source of R&R. So, just for fun, I thought I’d share some my family’s hard-earned travel-tips. You can thank me later. J #1. ...
Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims (Or Anyone Else). Tip #5: Be Yourself
This one is tougher than it looks. It's amazing how much time we spend being someone else. I've done that much of my life. Even in our attempts to "be like Jesus," we're asked to be "like" him in our own skin. We're all uniquely created to act and think in...
Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims (Or Anyone Else). Tip #4: No Western Christian Culture
This is a tough one. The obvious follow-up question is, "How do we know the difference between what's Western Christian culture and the good stuff?" Great question. Answer: It's not easy to tell. Because no matter what we read and hear and believe, our experience...
Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims (Or Anyone Else). Tip #3: Be A-Religious
After a talk I gave at Harvard one day, a Jewish grad student came to meet with me. She walked in loaded and ready for a fight. The first comment from her lips was, "I want you to know that I'm Jewish, and I don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah." She sat down...
Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims (Or Anyone Else). Tip #2: No Agenda
I know, we all have an agenda. Jesus had one. His was multifaceted. To serve. To teach twelve. To live in a way we could see the Father. To love. To die. And it seems the people he met never felt "used" by him. He never left a sinful woman or a blind beggar...
Practical Ways to Reach Out to Muslims (or Anyone Else). Tip #1: Have Fun
It always amazes me how often those of us from Christian backgrounds (especially the more conservative types) don't know how to party. In fact, that very word makes some nervous. Part of our excuse is that we're dealing with a life-and-death topic...our relationship...
