There is a story folded into the narrative of 2 Samuel that’s easy to miss on a quick read. It is also tempting to ignore as it contains a number of rather troubling elements. But it tells of a time when king David began to act more like the kings of the ancient Near East … Continue reading Rizpah: The (Not So) Silent Prophet
Thoughts on Scripture
Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: Revelation 3:20
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” Revelation 3:20 During this past month, the students in my church’s youth group have been learning how to share their own testimonies. We have … Continue reading Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: Revelation 3:20
On Listening (to Others)
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as the love of God begins with listening to His word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.”[1] “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not … Continue reading On Listening (to Others)
Isaiah and Idolatrous Efficiency
From the beginning of time, humanity has much preferred their own seemingly efficient solutions to accomplish the tasks that God has called them to do. God wished for Adam and Eve to learn in relationship with Him. They chose the quicker way to gain knowledge by eating from the tree. God wanted to make a … Continue reading Isaiah and Idolatrous Efficiency
The Wish Dream
Here’s an edited manuscript of the sermon I delivered at Word of Life Baptist Church on August 30th, 2020. I have removed the introduction and a few other parts that didn’t lend themselves to this blog format. If you’d rather listen to this sermon than read it, you can find the link to the YouTube … Continue reading The Wish Dream
Isaiah and the Devil
The “fall of Satan” is a story that even non-Christians know about. Often, this tale is told from an amalgamation of different passages found throughout both Testaments. We take bits of Ezekiel 28, Luke 10, Revelation 12, and Isaiah 14 to splice together a story about a prideful angelic being forced out of heaven who … Continue reading Isaiah and the Devil
Isaiah, The Nations, and Our Witness Among Them
In the book of Isaiah, God is consistently depicted as being sovereign over the nations of the world. The place that this is most clearly displayed is Isaiah 10:5-15. But what exactly does it mean that God is sovereign over the nations? How does His sovereignty play out? And what sort of implications might this … Continue reading Isaiah, The Nations, and Our Witness Among Them
Isaiah, Injustice, and Unanswered Prayers
My normal practice each summer is to live within only one book of the Bible. For a few years, I read and re-read the book of Judges from May to August. Then it was the Psalms. Then it was the Book of the Twelve. I find that an extended study of one particular book helps … Continue reading Isaiah, Injustice, and Unanswered Prayers
Justifying Hatred
“Hating is something of which to be ashamed unless it provides for us a form of validation and prestige. If either is provided, then the immoral or amoral character of hatred is transformed into positive violence.”[1] This was written by Howard Thurman in the context of the second world war. On the basis of nationalism, … Continue reading Justifying Hatred
Reading the Bible Won’t Make You Not Racist
This title is intentionally provocative. However, there is a truth that we do need to seriously consider, especially in this week’s current climate: simply reading your Bible does not make you less racist. In fact, reading your Bible (alone) doesn’t help with your racism whatsoever. I grew up in a Christian subculture. I’ve read the … Continue reading Reading the Bible Won’t Make You Not Racist
Scripture Simplified 