Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
A revised entry, first posted in August, 2008 What makes God attractive? Is it his creativity that formed grand galaxies with striking shapes and colors? Or his intimate gift of spider-spun webs that catch morning dew and sparkle against the backdrop of leaves and roses? Yes, his handiwork is certainly captivating when we ponder his …
Read More Our Attractive GodNote: I’m stepping back from writing a new entry every week in order to have more time for other writing projects. Prayers are appreciated. Look, too, for some edited versions of earlier entries. I attended a Good Friday service this Easter weekend. A local church offered a powerful Good Friday vision: we are sinners and …
Read More The Easter WeekendLast week I traced the enduring debate between Pelagius and Augustine and asked, “What do you think?” The question offered two possible readings. The obvious option was, “what’s your opinion?” But I also wondered where a person’s mind goes when it’s free to wander. Let me chase the second question in this entry. It’s a …
Read More What do you hear?This post is also found on the Cor Deo site. Please offer any responses there. Thanks! A feisty debate stirred the New England churches in 1636. The question at stake was the nature of faith—what is it that makes a Christian? In an early exchange of letters between two of the pastors, Peter Bulkeley asked …
Read More What do you think?Do you enjoy beauty? Perhaps a dramatic sunset, or a remarkable piece of artistry? The scene at the top of my Spreading Goodness site is a sunrise on Whidbey Island, Washington, near my parent’s former home. The brilliant colors and the slow motion of a fog bank rolling in from the right captured me on …
Read More BeautyIn a Cyprus setting properly suited to the standing of Sergius Paulus, Barnabas and Saul were invited to talk about Jesus. We don’t know how or why the meeting was arranged with Paulus, a Roman proconsul, but it was certainly a good opportunity for evangelism. Was the meeting stirred by a connection this figure might …
Read More Straight paths made crookedEverything starts with God. But who is he? What is God like? Dionysius, the self-professed convert of Paul, has helped shape one point of view. The true Dionysius, noted in Acts 17:34, isn’t known to us beyond his cameo Bible reference. But a much later figure who borrowed the name and identity of Dionysius is …
Read More Where should we start?Acts 1 presents us with Christ’s promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and chapter 2 tells us of his arrival. We get the impression that the Spirit was uniquely commissioned for the New Covenant ministry to empower Christians in ministry. And with that, as many have presumed, his appearances in the Old Testament …
Read More The Holy Spirit before JesusThe Council of Nicaea in 325 worked hard to summarize a sound understanding of the Triune God in the face of Arian error. They explained how Jesus, the Son, exists in eternal relationship with the Father. In a final document they added this truncated final object of proper faith—“And in the Holy Spirit.” The Father-Son …
Read More “And in the Holy Spirit”This repeats an entry offered at Cor Deo. Please offer any responses there. Thanks! Of all the questions we may ask few are more important than the simple query, “What really matters?” What should be our greatest priorities in life? The question presumes that priorities shape the way we live—that some options are more important …
Read More What really matters?