Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
This is the first post in a series on God’s Providence A sore hard spot above my left eye bothered me for weeks. Eventually I pulled out a sharp-edged glass shard. It was an eighth of an inch wide and a little bit longer. I was fifteen years old at the time and the splinter …
Read More Eyes to SeeLife is real to anyone reading these lines. It’s the label for our physical animation. Yet Jesus pointed to two aspects of life—to an outer physical aspect and an inner soul. In Matthew 10:28, for instance: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” And, in John 3:6, “That …
Read More The LifeI learned orienteering in the Army. It takes a wilderness, a map, and a compass. My brother Dave gave me a superb compass after he picked up on my interest. So the compass and a Bible are both set out in my living room as directional treasures. The Bible gives spiritual direction. It’s the one …
Read More The WayWorld, we have a problem. More fake-news, false narratives, and lawless days are coming. Midway through the first century Paul warned of a dark future, led by Satan and his minions. “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked …
Read More The TruthLet’s reflect on Christian faith. On what Thomas displayed in his response to Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” [John 20:28]. Why ask about faith? Thomas only came to faith after three full years with Jesus, so faith may take time to awaken. It invites reflection. It’s a crucial theme because without faith it’s impossible …
Read More Awakened FaithThis is the title for an article I wrote in January 1987—a how-to for Bible reading and reading partnerships. It’s now a sidebar item on this site. So my question. Is an invitation to bold Bible reading still relevant? Recently two university students made me wonder. After church, I took them to lunch and asked, …
Read More “Make this the year!”Two questions. First, what do we want from God? And second, what does God want from us? As a courtesy, let’s take the second question first. Because God, as Creator, has honor over his creation. This shows my bias as a Christian. What does God want? To start I’ll chase a variety of options. Each …
Read More What God wantsThe Bible gives readers a repeated alert, “Then you will know that I am the LORD.” Over seventy times. In both the Old and New Testaments. It’s spoken by prophets as from God himself, and it’s meant mainly for self-assured skeptics. Or quietly indifferent agnostics. Should we pay attention? Of course. It’s profoundly important. If …
Read More “Then you will know”Let’s revisit our ongoing discussion of faith. It’s how humans, once dead, come alive to God. John’s gospel is a workbook on faith—or, as he prefers, on “belief” in Christ. Early in John’s gospel Nicodemus came to Jesus for spiritual coaching. And Jesus, citing Numbers 21, simply told him to “look and live” in John …
Read More Living FaithConsider Psalm 2:12. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” We’re surprised to find God’s Son cited in an Old Testament setting. Christians later recognize the Son to be Jesus of Nazareth, as in Acts …
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