As a teenager growing up in Wyoming, I spent many weekends in the mountains “helping” (I’ll use that term loosely) my parents build a cabin. I admit I did the “work” my dad had for me somewhat begrudgingly, but it was always worth it when I was allowed to take the four-wheeler out. The area … Continue reading Seeing God’s Grace in Scripture’s Nitty-Gritty Details
Category: Deuteronomy
God Said No. What Now?
When I was in Bible college, every Monday in chapel would bring a round of “Works of God Testimonies,” when our president would encourage students and faculty to share brief, specific, God-glorifying testimonies of how we’d seen prayers answered in the recent past. Over four years, I heard testimonies of debts repaid, hard hearts softened, … Continue reading God Said No. What Now?
Learning to Cling
After forty sweltering years in the wilderness, Moses is about to die, and the people of Israel stand ready to enter the long-awaited Promised Land without him. Since a new generation has grown up in the wilderness after Sinai, Moses reiterates the Law in his farewell address, the book we know as Deuteronomy (literally, “second … Continue reading Learning to Cling
Far as the Curse Is Found
The longest chapter in Deuteronomy begins with hope but ends with horror. Moses has finished reiterating the Law to the new generation who will conquer the Promised Land; now in chapter 28 he tells them what to expect in return for keeping the Law—and what to expect if they don’t. Of the 68 verses in … Continue reading Far as the Curse Is Found
The Greatest Avenger
Fueled by fury, hatred, and hubris, the serpent strutted into the Garden and smiled. He knew the woman would soon wander near the forbidden tree, making his plan almost too easy. He arrived well before her to make sure everything was in order. He had been planning for too long to make a careless mistake … Continue reading The Greatest Avenger
Synced with Culture
Had our grandparents heard, “I need to sync my watch with my phone,” thirty years ago, they would have thought you wanted to submerge your phone and watch in water—and would probably have been quite nervous about your sanity. Today, however, the idea of “syncing” is everywhere. Google and Apple sync all compatible devices on … Continue reading Synced with Culture
My Praise
Not much creates rifts and divisions within a church like opinions over music. Contemporary or traditional? Band or no band? Hymns, contemporary songs, or psalms? Projector or hymnals? For each of these questions, I'm sure you have the "right" opinion. We feel quite strongly about our worship. No, let me rephrase that. We feel quite … Continue reading My Praise
L-O-V-E
It’s a word that carries great meaning, and at the same time has lost almost all meaning. We use it so frequently, that we don’t even realize that the myriad nuances we assign it have muddied it nearly to the point of obsolescence. I’m talking, of course, about the word love. In the same breath … Continue reading L-O-V-E
A Very Big Deal
It’s one of those stories that breaks my heart. I’m not talking about a Hallmark movie, Shakespearean tragedy, or tear-jerking human-interest news story. I’m talking about Moses being kept out of the Promised Land. You probably feel the same way. If you’ve made much progress it all in a yearly Bible reading plan, you’re familiar … Continue reading A Very Big Deal
The Israelite Guide to Fake Repentance
Cry Crocodile Tears Tears are non-negotiable when it comes to non-repentance. Make sure everyone knows that you’re sad and upset by your sin. This will demonstrate just how sorry you are that you got caught. Then many people will believe that you have genuinely seen the error of your ways and that you’re on the … Continue reading The Israelite Guide to Fake Repentance
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