Anyone else in the middle of less than pleasant circumstances? Yeah, yeah, I know – global pandemic, major election cycle, hurricanes, economic uncertainty, protests against racial injustice, plus whatever trials you may be facing in your personal life – all perfectly normal, and not worth mentioning as unpleasant, right? (That’s tongue-in-cheek, to be clear.) Anyone…
Category: Scripture
A Few Thoughts on Ephesians 4
I recently read the book of Ephesians as part of my daily Bible reading, and chapter 4 really made me stop and think. It’s not as though it’s the first time I’ve read this book; part of my schooling as a kid was to memorize it. It’s no fault of the system, only the fault…
Another Look at Hope
Confident expectation based on prior personal experience. You won’t find that definition of hope in any published dictionary, but as I read Psalm 54 recently, that’s definitely what came to mind. According to the biographical material prefacing David’s cry to the Lord, he was fleeing from Saul (again), and his whereabouts had just been told…
Where Do We Turn?
“Stupidity* is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That’s likely not a new saying for any of us; we’ve all probably heard it many times in a wide variety of circumstances referencing a broad spectrum of activities and expectations. Empirical science is literally dependent upon the same procedure producing…
The Lord Reigns
Anyone else need that reminder again? The Lord reigns, and that’s reason to be glad. Yes, in the midst of a global pandemic, despite massive Saharan dust plumes, regardless of economic uncertainty, we can (and should) rejoice because the Lord reigns. Isaiah 14 reminded me this morning that the Lord’s purposes cannot be turned back,…
Genealogies – A Transformative Perspective
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV) Most Christians, at least conservative ones, would probably indicate agreement with this. Yes, we really do…
Shelter: A Practical Look at Psalm 91
In my usual Bible reading cycle, I was in Psalm 91 recently. This has long been high on my list of well-loved Psalms, particularly verses 1, 2, and 4; even my favorite coffee cup, a treasured gift from a friend that sees use multiple times a day, features verse 2 on the side. But my…
When the Earth Totters
It really and truly was my intention to not even mention the c-word that’s been all over the news and media in the last couple weeks. No need to add my voice to the already-clamorous din, right? After all, everything that I could say has probably already been said, and likely more eloquently anyway. But…
Pleasure in Understanding
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Prov. 18:2) Ouch. The book of Proverbs has quite a bit to say about fools, and sometimes that can inspire a little bit of pride as I read them. “Nope, that’s not something I would ever consider doing! All good here!” (I’m…
Rock of Ages
I’ve written before about how much I appreciate hymns, particularly the richness of theology that we find in many of the old ones. (You can read my thoughts on “O Worship the King” and “Praise to the Lord” if you missed those the first time.”) Tonight’s feature was “Rock of Ages”, and once again, I’m…