Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
All of us have scars and hurts: perhaps a physical disability, a mental limitation, a sexual violation, a major relational loss—or a combination of these and more. And even as Christians the damage may have stolen our hope and left us in a debris field of disappointment. Yet people respond differently to disappointments. Some are …
Read More Life as leftovers?Are you happy? And—to press the issue—is happiness your aim in life? I ask because the answer, yes, is widespread. The classical religions and their teachers—led by Greek and Roman philosophers in particular—made happiness an ultimate value. Aristotle, for instance, was a “eudaimonist”—one who seeks goodness-satisfaction-happiness—and he made the state of happiness his measure of …
Read More Happy?A month ago some news sources offered passing comments about a June, 1914, assassination in Sarajevo—a century ago—that launched the wars of the twentieth century. The first stage of warfare was called the Great War because of its breadth and ferocity. Some—the optimists of the day—called it the War to end all wars. Instead it …
Read More Cyclic CenturiesThis morning the radio reported a lawsuit against a local flower company whose proprietor refused to supply wedding flowers for the marriage of two women. It was a clear case of discrimination; and it raises tensions for believers as legislators and courts reshape longstanding social boundaries: when, if ever, is discrimination proper? The underlying context …
Read More DiscriminationAlso published on the Cor Deo website. Please post any responses on that site by clicking here Job’s pain pushed him to ask God for a reprieve and also for an explanation. In effect, “What, oh my God, are you doing?!” In the dialogue with his friends Job knew something of what the Bible reader …
Read More God’s agenda in JobThis entry is also found on the Cor Deo site. Please post any comments there (click here). A quote in the Washington Post caught my attention. As hurricane Sandy approached the American eastern seaboard a Washington DC resident remarked, “I emailed my preacher today and said we need a sermon on the wrath of God …
Read More Divine WeatherThis is a repeat entry of the post first offered on the Cor Deo site, here Is it ever okay to complain to God? Is it appropriate to tell him that we think he’s done a terrible job and needs to start getting things right? Should the topic, “Proper forms of complaining in prayer,” be …
Read More Complaining to GodHere is a familiar line of logic in Christian circles: a. Jesus healed virtually everyone who asked to be healed. b. In texts like John 14:14 Jesus tells his disciples to ask him for whatever they might ask. c. We then pray and ask him to heal a dear friend who has stage 3 or …
Read More God’s AgendaThis entry was offered a week ago, on March 26, on the Cor Deo website. Jeremiah, the 7th century BC prophet, had a tough job. God called him to tell his family, friends, and neighbors in Jerusalem how wrong they were. Their views of God, destiny, and personal security were case studies in denial. They …
Read More Jeremiah’s ComplaintMy friend Mark offers a guest-entry this week. He raises an issue we need to hear if we happen to receive some level of status or appreciation from our ministries. It’s not only Paul’s concern – or Mark’s – but ours too. Paul, like the apostle John on the island of Patmos, was privileged to …
Read More The Privilege of Thorns