ken wilson online

Jesus Brand Spirituality: He Wants His Religion Back is a book I wrote as an evangelical, by which I mean, as someone who cares about communicating the good news (gk. evangel) among those who have not heard good news.  Right here, for example, where I live.  It is based on a certain reading of the culture in which I live.   We who have received and therfore have a responsibility to be and share good news, also have a responsibility to face up to the cultural context we operate in.  Here’s the challenge: we have a branding problem.  We who love, admire and seek to follow Jesus of Nazareth, must acknowledge that the Christian brand in America has sufferred something very like trademark infringement.
Read the rest of this entry »

Something’s come over me. Or came over me. Last Sunday, second service, and I stepped into a little wormhole or inspiration breeze, you don’t always know for sure. Touching the issue of warning against the adoption of the “liberal-conservative” category as a short-hand for “unfaithful-faithful” in matters of faith. I mean there in the sermon–what was a side-bar in the notes became a full stop, talk straight kind of thing. A little flushing or warmth around the ears kind of thing. Sounding like my brother in law Bill, here, I know. It was almost like feeling the thing itself–the category, I mean–bristling back, annoyed. I know this sounds charismatic or egomaniacal. I told you, something came over me.
Read the rest of this entry »

Starting a new sermon series in the new year on happiness…what got me thinking: several different women who when asked, how are you doing? replied, blessed! or I’m having a blessed day….people I don’t know, just running across in the course of a day. They’ve got some secret, these women. (The image was created by Jeff Hill.)