Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
Any of us who do bold Bible reading—the three-or-more-read-throughs-a-year folks—will have conversations with God as we read. That’s our insiders’ information . . . what makes the reading so satisfying and keeps us going. I’m happy to promote relational Bible reading once again for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a wonderful opportunity—a rich and …
Read More Reading IsaiahSin is ironically powerful. It has all the power of a runaway human ego. It can undermine great rulers, break the strongest vows, blind the most able scholars, and even crucify God himself. But ironic? Yes, ironic because sin has no extrinsic power over the sinner. Sin, instead, is an inner ambition of the soul. …
Read More Moral Sight“Christendom” is the collective rhetorical tag for all who are now or have been associated with historical Christianity. To outside observers—whether Hindu, Buddhist, Islamist, or secularists—the links are loose and ill-informed. But the result is that Christendom – that is, the Western world – is a monolithic spiritual opponent. And when outside observers are hardened …
Read More Who?The word “compassion” appears twice at the end of 2 Chronicles. In 36:15 we read the God “had compassion” on his people and his temple: given their responsiveness to God they were spared from disaster. But a moment later, in verse 17, we read just the opposite. God unleashed the Babylonian army on his people, …
Read More Looking for CompassionIn the final chapter of Isaiah, the prophet speaks God’s words of both warning and invitation to his people: “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (66:2). God is setting out a sharp contrast between those who are religious—offering …
Read More What God WantsGod will welcome many to his glory in eternity. Yet this good news touches a sensitive issue: it’s clear from the Bible that God draws some—but not all—to join him. So how does he make his choices? Does he measure the quality of human conduct, as in a naughty versus nice equation? Or before creation …
Read More How God DecidesAll of us collect low-grade bruises on a regular basis. I felt like a victim again last night when the hotel clerk sweetly told me I needed to sign over another $45—“just overnight”—after I had prepaid the room fee weeks before. This was “just a security hold” for any added services I might use. But …
Read More What Really Matters?The other day Terry asked me about evil. He’s a regular at the coffee shop where I do my morning reading and writing. His question had a sharp edge. Most of us began adult life with hopes for a successful career, a happy marriage, and a satisfying retirement. But who promised us this hoped-for stability? …
Read More DisruptedThink of a time you were surprised when a person you’ve just met turns out to be close to one of your very dear friends who lives in a distant place. A pair of responses usually follows. First you both compare notes about the shared friend and these validate the connection. And next the new …
Read More Instant RecognitionJohn twice alludes to Genesis 1:1—“In the beginning God”—to launch his own writing. In the fourth Gospel we find “In the beginning was the Word” and in 1 John 1 he starts with an almost identical reference “That which was from the beginning.” John, obviously, held this to be critical in orienting his readers to …
Read More In the Beginning