Mike Dente

Christian Living Culture

Vincent under the Starry Night of His Calling

Calling and desire, though close in emotional intensity, aren’t the same thing. I’ve known people come to serve with all the proper credentials, with holy…

Mike DenteJune 23, 2023

Discipleship Theology

Finding Strength in the Benevolent Gaze of God

Last November, I wrote an article about knowing God as a conventional relationship. I developed an idea from John Frame that describes how profound our…

Mike DenteMay 12, 2023

Discipleship Theology

Communion Is a Family Affair

Do you remember the first time you took communion? I remember pretending to close my eyes and secretly watching everyone around me. I had no…

Mike DenteApril 17, 2023

Gospel Ministry & Leadership

Church Planting Like Skateboarding

In the Protestant West, we’ve come to see church planting as a mainstream activity for Christians. But I wonder. As we enter an area with…

Mike DenteMarch 24, 2023

Theology

Complicit Spiritual Warfare: An Observation from Job

The power of the spoken word can have effects that outlast physical experiences. A few words of encouragement can help us overcome horrendous trials. But…

Mike DenteFebruary 16, 2023

Gospel History & Holidays

Peace on Earth

“Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace to men on whom God's favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). There is still quite a bit…

Mike DenteDecember 16, 2022

Discipleship

Unity, Love, and Social Action

I believe that apologetics is more than a defense. It’s the presentation of an alternative to, or correction for, a non-biblical worldview. This includes friendship…

Mike DenteNovember 23, 2022

Theology

Knowing God is Covenantal Friendship

In the 90’s, I was part of what we called an “Emo” band. (My kids have made me aware of just how much this term…

Mike DenteNovember 1, 2022

Gospel

Unity Requires Conversation

A conversation with the right person at the right time can change everything. The other day I walked out of an interview gone wrong. Reeling…

Mike DenteAugust 26, 2022

Gospel

Gospel-Based Differentiated Unity

I recently went on a missions trip to help out near the Ukrainian border of Poland. Though brief, my experience was life-enriching. It also brought…

Mike DenteMay 2, 2022

Christian Living

Five Reasons for Community in 2022

Just when people started coming back to church… Omicron. How many more Greek letters will we go through? As a pastor of a local Church,…

Mike DenteFebruary 16, 2022

Discipleship Ministry & Leadership

Take Courage: A Meditation on Acts 23:11

Ever finished a project and thought: Is that it? The result just did not compare to the excitement that first inspired action. This is especially…

Mike DenteDecember 8, 2021

History & Holidays

Christmas Truce: The Day World War I Stopped

There are acts of unplanned kindness that break through the humdrum of daily existence and shine a new sense of light. Infused with grace, these…

Mike DenteDecember 13, 2020

History & Holidays

Rouault and the Masks We Wear

From time to time, a work of art can touch our soul. It examines us and provides a filter like a camera’s focused perspective. In…

Mike DenteOctober 8, 2020

Culture Theology

God’s Goodness in the Midst of COVID

Monday, May 11, began a new chapter in France's struggle with the Coronavirus. The time of confinement is transitioning into renewed activity. Many people are…

Mike DenteMay 19, 2020