wisdom from the past, challenges for today
It’s the perennial question for any book turned into film (and the occasional movie turned into a book): Which one is better? I’m often on the “book” side of the fence, but there are many movies that I’ve loved without ever having read the books behind them. I might never open up the pages of … Continue reading The Book or the Movie?
Catching up on my Bible reading plan—or at least trying to—I read aloud from Genesis this morning to my youngest child. Listening in was another young boy whom I will also claim. “Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see…” The account is … Continue reading Sinners
Do you have art hanging on your walls? Why do you want to reread a well-written novel when you already know the ending? Why do we sing songs in church, and read poems (Psalms) responsively? Why does the sanctuary have wall hangings, finely embroidered altar decorations, and arcing wooden beams? Why are we so captivated … Continue reading The Arts Supporting the Word
Are you a disciple? What do you think a disciple is? In younger days, before I had to worry about facial hair and car licenses, I understood a disciple to be one of that band of twelve men in sandals who hung out with Jesus in Galilee. The dozen disciples started out in relative ignorance … Continue reading Apostolic Disciples? Apostles? Discipling Apostates?
In the wise, old words of Schoolhouse Rock, “Three is a magic number.” Our loving God has revealed himself as the ancient mystic Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has revealed to us the virtues of faith, hope, and love. Our thrice-holy Lord is the God who was, who is, and who is to come. … Continue reading Prayer Trifecta
Martin Luther and his fellow Reformers really “hammered” on the concept of Law and Gospel. After the church had by the 1500s corrupted the Apostles’ teaching, the Reformation clarified the definitions of these terms and pointed the church back to the words of Jesus and Paul to help us keep Law and Gospel straight. “Law,” … Continue reading Who Is Teaching Christians How to Live?
We want to be right, and we want others to know it. We want our friends, our enemies, and the whole world to admit that we are on the right side of the truth, the right side of history, the right side of the issue de jour. I speak for myself, at least. But it … Continue reading Being Right for the Right Reasons
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things … Continue reading Creation Care and Human Salvation
Life in the 21st century is filled with paradoxes. Vast quantities of information is at the tip of our fingers every day, but it has become harder and harder to dig ourselves out of the pile of data that we feel we need to know. We are encouraged to think for ourselves and be our … Continue reading Why care about the Reformation?
A few years back in a seminary course taught by Dr. Kent Burreson, I was asked to write a paragraph about the meaning and import of each major section of a traditional worship service. It is good to look back and reflect on these deep matters: Confession / Absolution Preparatory Rite When the people confess … Continue reading Worship as Theological Grammar