by Rich Hansen | Mar 23, 2021 | Provocative Questions
In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy and Susan are told about Aslan, the great Lion who is ruler of Narnia (and Lewis’s figure for Jesus Chris). “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ’Course he...
by Rich Hansen | Mar 16, 2021 | Provocative Questions
The word “witnessing” quickly divides many Christians. Some (often more on the left) are wary, perhaps even disdainful of the whole idea. “Witnessing” conjures images of obnoxious salesmen for God. With only these negative images of personal evangelism, this group...
by Rich Hansen | Mar 9, 2021 | Provocative Questions
Perhaps you’ve heard this story before. A captain looked out from his bridge into a dark, stormy night and saw a faint light on the horizon coming straight at him. He immediately sent a message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly, the reply came back:...
by Rich Hansen | Mar 4, 2021 | Provocative Questions
These weeks during the season of Lent are traditionally times for serious self-examination, something I don’t do often enough. I decided to offer some weekly reflections on issues we may not examine as deeply as we should. Last week I addressed the idea of...
by Rich Hansen | Jan 26, 2021 | Provocative Questions
During my 21 years pastoring a church in Central California, I was part of the clergy rotation to offer the opening prayer at monthly City Council meetings. Once a contentious issue required moving the meeting from City Hall to a high school gym to accommodate the...
by Rich Hansen | Jan 19, 2021 | Provocative Questions
As many of us are still reeling from the January 6 attack on Congress meeting in our nation’s Capitol, and as our nation inaugurates a new President tomorrow, I cannot think of anything we need to do more than pray. In my Presbyterian tradition worship is...
