Card Talk
Ben Christian
The Angel of Death (Hezekiah 3:18): A ...

It’s now time to address that scythe wielding, six winged, cherub whose coming heralds fear in the heart of humanity [read that reference again] . . .

The Angel of Death (Hezekiah 3:18): A Misunderstood and Theologically Vital Non-Entity
Card Talk
Ben Christian
Peter's need for Ritalin (Mark 9:5-6) OR What ...

"Peter didn't know what the Hell he was talking about. He had no idea what the mountain-top experience really represented...Moses & Elijah represented encouragement and a reminder to be attentive to faithfulness, because dark days are coming..."

Peter's need for Ritalin (Mark 9:5-6) OR What we can learn from The Transfiguration and Other Mountain-Top Experiences
Creed Card Talk
Ben Christian
“Although Surprising to Most, the Kingdom of ...

 . . . one year we’ll defend our belief in an incarnation timed for Sukkoth as there is no way Jesus was born in December, and we’ll write the Card Talk about how the wise men did not show up until He was three years old. Eventually we’ll even address the fact that the little drummer boy was actually a drunk Roman solider looking for his estranged wife (okay, we just made that last one up) . . .

“Although Surprising to Most, the Kingdom of Heaven is really like___________”
Other, Card Talk
Ben Christian
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14) [An ...

Sadly, this Advent Card Talk is applicable every year...

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14) [An Advent Card Talk]
Card Talk
Ben Christian
Jesus looking for a fight (Mark 11:11) -The Two ...

In discussing how fast "faith can move mountains," Matthew cuts Mark's three-day story in half. He speeds up the pace, chronologically and theologically. 

Jesus looking for a fight (Mark 11:11) -The Two Palm Sundays

Suffering

God holding your enemies’ heads under the water until the bubbles stop. (Exodus 15:1-12; 19)

God holding your enemies’ heads under the water until the bubbles stop. (Exodus 15:1-12; 19)

At the heart of theologies that liberate is the belief that there is nothing inherently good about suffering. Suffering is not redemptive, salvation is. So we must eschew shitty soteriologies that place suffering at the center of Christ’s work.

The wise men, three years late for the nativity (Matthew 2:8-11) [An Epiphany Card Talk]

The wise men, three years late for the nativity (Matthew 2:8-11) [An Epiphany Card Talk]

Beyond the fact that the magi never met the baby Jesus, the true gift of the magi is the epiphany, the revelation, Christ wants us to apprehend: that to be seen standing (or kneeling) for something often means we will suffer.

The Spirit moving you to dance semi naked through the streets (2 Samuel 6:14-20)

The Spirit moving you to dance semi naked through the streets (2 Samuel 6:14-20)

Sometimes kings want to dance in the streets with their scepters hanging out. Sometimes you want to mourn the death of children through social media. We do not have to shit on other people’s joy or pain while processing our own legitimate emotions. There is room for both.