There's been a lot of taking, writing, and shouting about the "right side" and "wrong side" of history, and which "side" you should be on. It strikes me a bit odd that many believers have accepted this false idea of history and who controls it. People believe that history has an arc, and that it can be bent by the efforts of humanity. History does …

Do you see yourself as a "peace-maker" or a "peace-keeper"? What difference would it make if you got this right? Or wrong? In any worldview that believes peace-keeping should be the priority, change is viewed with suspicion. Even change in the right direction. Threats to our personal peace and way of life—if uniformed by the purposes of God—result …

Shalom is the "way things are supposed to be"…everywhere…among everyone…all the time. It's absence is what's wrong with the world. But because the whole idea of shalom is foreign to us as believers, we don't naturally ask life questions within its frame of reference. For example, do you think there are places where it's "more absent" than in other …

One of the things I've come to realize, after 51 years on the "Jesus Road," is that the Bible is new every morning. It's an example of a not so famous saying by Buddy Hinton in Kee Sloan's book, Jabbok: "The more I learn this, the truer it gets." In an age of glance, swipe and poke, hearing or reading something more than once is actually a good thi…

If one of your older Bibles has maps in the back, you'll notice that this image doesn't match the Dead Sea in your Bible. That's because the water from the Jordan River is being syphoned off for irrigation before it reaches the Dead Sea. And as a result, Dead Sea is becoming "deader" for lack of water. It's become two separate bodies of water, one …

In this second interview with shalom-makers—men and women who see themselves as agents of shalom because they're beneficiaries of grace—Fran introduces Sarah Jackson. The product of a turbulent childhood in a loving home, she found herself being drawn to those we have marginalized, even forgotten, in our ceaseless pursuit of the next new thing. Sar…

This is the first of a series of interviews with shalom-makers who've learned to live on the flip-side because they understand the front-side of theology. Tracy Hipps' childhood was horrific and traumatic. Yet, he discovered that his own pain made him empathetic rather than merely pathetic and angry. He found his greatest joy in giving away rather …

You've probably heard a Christian described as someone who's "going to heaven when they die," because they "invited Jesus into their hearts." It's a pleasant thought. But, it's also incorrect. It reduces salvation and faith to two points on a line, one at the beginning and one at the end. Unfortunately, it leaves out the line itself! A person's ent…

Why do you think Yeshua spoke about "doing" righteousness? Why did the prophet Amos talk about righteousness rolling down like "an ever-flowing stream"? Why would Paul tell a young pastor, a beneficiary of Christ's righteousness, to "pursue righteousness," and that the Scriptures are "profitable for...training in righteousness"? Maybe it's time tha…

There’s an unspoken question staring us right in the face on at least thirteen pages of our Bible. Why do you think the Apostle Paul opened each of his letters with a sort of a Hebrew blessing, “grace to you and peace from God our Father…”? Why would Paul ask God to give his listeners two things they already had?— “Grace” from God, and “peace” with…

The "Peace Movement"—if there really is such a thing—did not originate with the Sixties youth culture. It's as old as the heart of God Himself. In fact, it's at the very center of His purposes. That means "peace" is an enormous word in the One Story of the One God. Paul used the word over forty times in his letters. He wrote the Greek word for peac…

Do you know who's image is on the front of a $100 bill? Lots of folks do. How about the back? You probably didn't do as well on that one. It's odd, because the back of the $100 bill is more colorful and the numbers are bigger. So, why don't we know? Most likely because we're comfortable knowing just the front. For many of us in the faith community—…

When it comes to the One Story of the One God, unfortunately, many believers have their bookmark stuck in the wrong place. They've know some of the Story, but not the whole Story. And as a result, there are counterfeit stories that captivate some of us. Drawing on his metaphor of a Five Act Play from the previous two episodes, Fran explores what ha…

If someone were to ask you, "What is the Bible?" How would you respond? Would you say, "It's the Word of God"? What if they asked you another question, like, "About what?" What would you say then? Our perspective on the Bible not only determines what we think about it. It dictates what we do with it, and why. Is the Bible really an anthology of boo…

The people of God have had a perennial problem trying to discover a sense of identity within the cultures they have found themselves throughout history. They have, in the words of Fran Sciacca, often "resembled a cast of characters in search of a plot." And when the road in search of a plot ran dry, more often than not, they settled for an agenda r…

There's so much happening so fast, in so many places, to so many people it seems like the world's coming to an end. People of faith have always wondered if their generation would be the one that witnessed the return of Christ. There's nothing new about asking that question. In this episode, Fran walks us into this question through what he calls, "t…

When you hear the word, “gospel,” do you think immediately of evangelism? If someone asked you, “What is the gospel?” would your answer have to do with personal salvation, or something bigger? Is there a relationship between the gospel and justice? What’s the difference between systematic theology and biblical theology? What do all these things hav…

What do fasting, pasta, Alexander the Great, and abortion have in common? You might be surprised. In this provocative episode, Fran lays bare the words that we as evangelicals either misunderstand or are misusing to describe ourselves. And in so doing, he exposes some tender areas of neglect when it comes to the part we're supposed to play in resto…

Fifty years ago, Richard Bolles wrote a book designed to help people find their way into the world of work. It was called, What Color is Your Parachute? The book has sold over 10 million copies in 22 languages. And...it has been updated 48 times since. Once each year, since 1975. Finding a career in a changing world apparently is a challenge. Unfor…

Did you know Elijah was facing a pandemic…of sorts? Did you know that Elijah quarantined himself after he spent some time under the zoom tree?** During these “unprecedented” times, there’s a word for us from our ancient past. I don’t think God wants us to miss the point, at just the time when He’s trying to make one. Life will be different after th…

As the Sixties were winding down, hopes were ramping up. This, after all, was "the age of Aquarius." In the words of The Fifth Dimension, "harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding, no more falsehoods or derisions, mystic crystal revelations and the mind's true liberation." Surely the best days were ahead! Woodstock was proof. Yet, fi…

In his classic work, Modern Times, historian Paul Johnson titled his chapter on the Sixties, “America’s Suicide Attempt.” He saw that decade as a near implosion of American culture, due partly to a war between the generations. In this second episode of Fran’s new series, “There And Back Again: A Hippie’s Tale,” he paints a vivid family portrait of …

In Fran's new series, There And Back Again - A Hippies' Tale, we'll be flying at 50,000 feet over the past half century of American culture, attempting to sleuth our way into a better understanding of how we've arrived at our moment in history—as a nation and as Christians. Drawing from his past research as well as his own anecdotal memory, in this…

Identity theft is an enormous issue in the modern age. All of us know at least one person who's been affected by it. It's insidious because it violates our privacy and our security. We go to great means to prevent others from stealing what rightfully belongs to us — our unique identity. Did you know that's happening to us as believers too? We have …

Agur? Who in the world is Agur? Well, don't feel bad if you don't already know. But also, don't think because you don't know him, that you shouldn't, either. In fact, you'll be grateful to discover who he is, and just maybe, you'll want to be a little more like him. In this episode, "What do you think Agur would want for Christmas?", obscurity will…

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. But, it wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. So, this Thursday, mo…

The environment and everything about it has been politicized, even weaponized. Young people are angry and confused over a planet full of adults who can't seem to agree on things that will outlive them, but could threaten the generations that follow. And, true to form, God's covenant people seem to have come late to the party. In this episode, Fran …

Mention the word, "Sodom," or her twin, "Gomorrah," and the imaginations of religious people are in hyper-drive...much of it headed in in only one direction. If someone were to ask you what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word, "Sodom," what would it be? In this powerful episode, Fran suggests that many peoples' standard…

It seems a little odd that God asks for a portion of our wealth, our possessions, our time, and even our whole bodies, don't you think? I mean, what does he plan to do with all this stuff? Is he a hoarder on a grand scale? Well, I'm sure you already know that he's not, but you still need an answer to the question of what he plans to do with whateve…

In the comedy, My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding, Gus Portokalos, father of the bride, boasted, "Give me a word. Any word. And I show you that the meaning of that word...it is Greek!" When it comes to staying the course on the road to shalom, there are three Greek words that are essential. Fran takes us on a journey to understand what they are and why the…

Yosef was an ordinary man living in an unimpressive village. In fact, some thought no one from his hometown could ever achieve anything in life. Turns out they were wrong. As wrong as anyone has ever been about anything. The whole world knows about Yosef's village. But…not much about Yosef. Come spend a half hour learning about this shalomic man. H…

Everyone's looking for the "perfect" job. A career that will provide tremendous purpose and a sense of individuality that gives meaning to their daily lives. This episode takes you into the life of one who had the perfect job, because of who he was. You know him. You just haven't realized it yet. It'll also give you a little brush-up on some junior…

Life is difficult. Sometimes almost unbearable. What should be the relationship between my circumstances and my soul? Would you write a hymn if you lost your financial resources, two sons, and four daughters? Horatio Spafford did. And then spent the rest of his life helping the poor in a malaria-infested part of Jerusalem. Find out how in this epis…

We all intuitively know things aren't right around us. Sometimes, in exasperation, we blurt out, "What's wrong with this world?!!" Well, this is one of those times when it's okay to blame our parents. We're going right to the mother lode when it comes to finding an answer to that question orbiting in our hearts. You might be surprised though, when …

Did you know that for followers of Jesus, there's something worse than racism? It's gracism? Do you know what it is? Do you know why it's so bad? Do you wonder if it might have crept into your life? You'll get all those questions answered in this episode of "The Road to Shalom." __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong …

Let's face it, American Evangelicalism is over-taught, over-worshipped, over-fellowshipped, and under-exercised. We're spiritually obese and constipated. Ergology—the doctrine that's we're so afraid of—is God's solution to our malaise. Time to take your soul to the gym! __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With the …

Adrenaline is not a shalomic hormone. Shalom can not exist in the midst of noise and confusion. What effects are we having on the shalom of others through our unconscious and non-deliberate choices of how, when, and where we use our smartphones? This episode is a mixture of humor and hard-hitting self-evaluation on whether we're agents of shalom or…

The third and final episode in "Recovering Personhood in an Age of Machines." Social media's promise of notoriety on one hand, and the reality that the world's needs will always outstrip my resources, threaten to render us paralyzed in terms of being agents of shalomic restoration. In this episode, we'll uncover the secret of being a "binary believ…

God is centrifugal. That is, He moves out from Himself. He loves. He's merciful. He's generous. We share that image. But, in Adam, we also have a desire to "know" like God. Technology promises that we can "know" everything, anytime, anywhere. But, we are diminishing as people in the process. This second installment, "You Are Not a Gadget," explores…

As our machines become more "human," in an odd twist, we are becoming more like our machines. Fran traces the meteoric rise of technology against the equally fast demise of our personhood. Citing secular experts, he builds a case for our need to reassess what we're becoming. __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With…

INTERVIEW: Fran interviews world-class shoulder surgeon, David Adkison who sees his patients as image bearers of God whose bodies can be restored to the way they're supposed to be, and sees himself as a restorer of shalom. __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With the World?" - evangelism & discipleship video curric…

What if hearing Jesus say, "Well done" when you meet him means you have to speak first. What would you say that would elicit that response from him? This episode explores the sense of mission that understanding our identity and our purpose produces. (Pt. 3 of 3) __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With the World?" …

We all need a story. And it's either going to be our own or someone else's. And who that someone else is really matters. (Part 2 of 3) __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With the World?" - evangelism & discipleship video curriculum "Knot or Noose? - Recovering the Mystery of Marriage" - small group video resource …

Before getting on The Road to Shalom, we need to make sure we're at peace with our view of ourselves. This premier episode explores the vital arena of personal identity. (Pt 1 of 3). __________________________ OTHER HANDS OF HUR RESOURCES "What's Wrong With the World?" - evangelism & discipleship video curriculum "Knot or Noose? - Recovering the My…