Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.Yeah, right. In what way could that possibly be true? It’s easy to say, “Oh that’s a future promise.” In other words, “Suck it up now, and you’ll get a nice shiny reward in heaven.” While we certainly hope in the life eternal, isn’t there a present manifestation … Continue reading How The Meek Inherit The Earth
Bible
Food For Thought: We Are All Scarecrows (Meditation on Ephesians 2:1-5)
First the bad news: we’re all scarecrows. Not the cute “Wizard of Oz” kind of scarecrow, with a winsome song and dance. Nor the scary “Batman” kind of scarecrow as psychopathic super-villain. No. We’re the T.S. Eliot kind of scarecrow: “We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with … Continue reading Food For Thought: We Are All Scarecrows (Meditation on Ephesians 2:1-5)
5 Blessings That Come From God’s Fondness For You. (Meditation on Ephesians 3:1-10 part 2)
“It’s not about you; It’s all about God” That’s supposed to be the comforting message of Ephesians 1? Yes. It’s comforting because of a second foundational truth: God is very fond of His children. He’s “…blessed us with every spiritual blessing…” (Eph 1:3) Which means what? First there is the blessing of being chosen (Eph … Continue reading 5 Blessings That Come From God’s Fondness For You. (Meditation on Ephesians 3:1-10 part 2)
Romantic Realism: A Meditation of Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
The famous “To everything there is a season” passage of Ecclesiastes teaches us how to die, and it teaches us how to live. This next passage that follows pushes to apply those teaching when confronted with the harsh realities of life.“Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was … Continue reading Romantic Realism: A Meditation of Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
A Time to Die (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, part 1)
Within the human heart there exists, though we try to deny it, a longing for permanence. The great poet John Keats wrestles with this longing in his most famous works: “Bright star, Would I Were Steadfast as Thou Art” and “Ode to a Grecian Urn” reveal his yearning to be free from this world of … Continue reading A Time to Die (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, part 1)
Persistence and God’s Calling (reflection on Genesis 32:22-32)
Jacob was one persistent cuss.He was the second born twin who came out grabbing his brother’s heel. He snookered his brother out of a birthright. Then, for good measure, he swindled his dad, taking all the blessing for himself.Jacob persistently worked for seven years to win the hand of the lovely Rachel, only to discover … Continue reading Persistence and God’s Calling (reflection on Genesis 32:22-32)
The book of crisis: Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes, the book of Qohelet, is the book of crisis.Not the book of a crisis. A crisis is an event, a happening. A crisis strikes us from a blind side, laying us low in the dust. It happens, it is over, and it leaves us reeling in our attempt to recover. Job had a crisis; … Continue reading The book of crisis: Ecclesiastes
Horizons of the Possible 