Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
I’m reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s little book, Life Together, on Christian community. He promoted reading the Bible as a whole. It’s something worth noting. He wrote that narrow readings—reflecting on just one or two verses—will always have value. It allows believers to discover the depth available in any part of the Bible. But this approach can’t …
Read More Bonhoeffer on Bible ReadingWhat was Adam thinking in Eden when Eve handed him a forbidden fruit? It came from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God told him to avoid. But he ate it anyway. And here the mystery lies. How did he, a man without any prior moral fault, dismiss God’s words in …
Read More Words and FaithLast week I was with a church outreach in Guatemala. We used an autorefractor supplied by Global Eyeglass Ministries to examine eyes of hundreds of local Guatemalans. And with that we also had many used and donated eyeglasses to match needs through a computer program. Once we had a match we gave the eyeglasses as …
Read More A new view of lifeC.S. Lewis wrote about grass “as hard as diamonds” that wouldn’t bend when the protagonist of his story walked among the trees in a forest glade. Each blade was like a nail. At the same time a bird pushed the grass aside and was spattered by dew that had been as firm as glass to …
Read More RealIn the Bible, Exodus 3-14, God confronted Pharaoh through Moses. His message? “Let my people go!” But Pharaoh, a poor listener, rejected God’s call. At least in the beginning. Later he responded, but only in the face of repeated disasters. You might want to read the narrative. So what was Pharaoh thinking? Was he a …
Read More Pharaoh’s Hard HeartLast night I couldn’t sleep. Jos, Nigeria, at 2 AM on a lumpy mattress wasn’t working. So I reached out for my aged little iPod to listen to John’s gospel. I expected it to offer a reprieve and it did—I faded back to sleep by 3. When morning arrived I retraced the ten chapters—part of …
Read More In the WordHow do we, as Christians, build up others? I’m asking this with both our secular contacts and fellow believers in view. Is there a special evangelism and discipleship program, ministry strategy, or sermon series available to do the trick? Are there seminars to attend, disciplines to engage, or educators to invite to teach spiritual formation …
Read More Spiritual FormationAs you read the Bible what are you expecting? Or what should you be expecting? It’s an important question with a host of possible answers. Let’s note three and then I’ll share part of what draws me—an avid Bible reader—into sustained and whole-Bible reading. First time readers may come to the Bible because it’s called …
Read More What to look for?Choices represent values. Do you chase adventure? Or is personal security and comfort more important? Do you like to be noticed, or do you prefer a low profile? Are you avid about food? Or is entertainment your scene? Or are you, perhaps, an omnivore—with many interests? And if you like to be entertained do you …
Read More What’s important?We all like to speculate. Some do it more than others. And some do it more constructively than others. Think, for instance, of the pioneering physicists of the last century. Albert Einstein, for one, unpacked quantum realities with huge leaps of insight. And he was just one of a clan of pioneers who at first …
Read More Embodied Souls