by Rich Hansen | Jan 14, 2021 | Provocative Questions
For all Christians, but especially evangelical Christians like me, the ultimate enemy–often lurking beneath other social movements or ideas–is relativism. Relativism is dangerous because it attacks not this truth or that truth, but the reality of truth...
by Rich Hansen | Dec 22, 2020 | Provocative Questions
Welcome to the fourth week of the Advent season! These past three weeks of Advent I’ve been reflecting on the Songs of Christmas shared in Luke’s gospel. If you missed them, click below: 1st Week–Sing Along With Mary (a most unusual Christmas...
by Rich Hansen | Dec 15, 2020 | Provocative Questions
The non-Jewish world entered Matthew’s Christmas story through the Magi, who followed the star from the east. All of us non-Jews or Gentiles enter Luke’s Christmas story in Simeon’s song. Simeon’s song reminds us what we so easily forget: Jesus came as Messiah...
by Rich Hansen | Dec 7, 2020 | Provocative Questions
This is about losing your voice—and finding it again. It’s about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. We find his story at the beginning of Luke, chapter 1. Those of us who have lived long enough to have buried a few of our own dreams can easily identify...
by Rich Hansen | Dec 1, 2020 | Provocative Questions
No one likes to wait! Yet waiting is baked into the Christian life, often more than we would ever desire (or expect). In the Christian year, the Advent season between now and Christmas is a particular opportunity for what we all need, but rarely...
by Rich Hansen | Nov 24, 2020 | Provocative Questions
One of the ongoing gags on the old Get Smart TV show was the “cone of silence” descending around a table. In like manner, a “cone of Thanksgiving” will descend around many of our Thanksgiving tables later this week–at least for me. Within the cone of...
