Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
I can hear God. His voice is easily picked up by the alert ear—by any who are ready to listen. And I’m listening. What is he is saying? He regularly starts with a simple message that is both threatening and comforting: “I am Yahweh.” And from there he goes on to share what that means …
Read More God’s VoiceIn Hebrews 12:6 we find a citation of Proverbs 3:11,12: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” The author then elaborates the point (verses 10-11), “For they [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our …
Read More Love and DisciplineGod, speaking through Jeremiah, bared his heart to his people: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me” (Jeremiah 2:5). When I read this I quickly asked a counter-question, “God, does our widespread human distaste for you really matter? Aren’t you so transcendent, so exalted in your glory, and …
Read More Worth and WorthlessnessWho is the Spirit? What should we expect of him and how do we respond to him? It’s an important question, especially given what Jesus had to say. And what Paul said as well. It’s a question so important that our lives depend on getting it right. The full edition of this post was published …
Read More Thinking SpirituallyThe king leaned forward, angry. “He deserves to die.” The prophet responded, fixing the king eye-to-eye: “And you are the man.” Many readers will immediately recognize this element as the dramatic peak of Nathan’s confrontation of King David after the king murdered Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. I start with it—a story of adultery, murder, …
Read More The Power of a Good Story“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answers of the tongue is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). Here the author offers us God’s perspective as a basis for our own point of view. That is, of course, a key insight for faith as we enter a new year. Let me carry it …
Read More Making New Year PlansHow often do you ask questions? What kind of questions do you ask? And what’s the ratio between your queries and your assertions? I ask with an agenda: questions are the lifeblood of learning. Even more than that, questions are crucial to our spiritual growth. And too many of us aren’t growing very quickly – …
Read More The Quest of QuestionsMy 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 ThornsMost of us find security in numbers. We like to be with others—to go with a crowd. And a strong majority vote is the ultimate measure of a good democracy. So, too, as those involved in economics or politics say before they make a key decision, “Let’s look at the numbers.” Numbers, after all, don’t …
Read More A Matter of NumbersMy dear Lord, thank you for the holiday of Thanksgiving as we share it today. What began centuries ago as a joyful expression of dependence on you still echoes among us today. Thank you, Lord, for sharing yourself with us. You capture us in the communion of your eternal mutual love through our union with …
Read More A Thanksgiving Prayer