My Bible study has started to focus on the Book of Psalms and I’m really enjoying the discussion. One thing I’ve been forced to think about is how the New Testament authors used the Psalms to help elevate their own works. They do this with several OT books not simply the Psalms; one minute your... Continue Reading →
An honest vote: one year on
One year ago I wrote a post about casting an honest vote in the presidential election. A year later and all I see is a growing partisan divide. Obviously, we are going to have differences of opinion in a country which covers thousands of square miles and contains 300 million+ people. That is not the... Continue Reading →
My prayer for the day.
Today is world day of prayer for the care of creation; established in 1989 this is a relatively new event on the Church calendar. Unfortunately, I find that often creation care is only a concern in more mainline and left leaning churches; and then, often only because it is tied up in social concerns. However,... Continue Reading →
What do our symbols mean?
Symbols are important they keep us grounded, they provide us with rich complex messages in very simple and compact ways. Symbols have a narrative, a story bound into their very fiber; symbols are simply shorthand for the telling of these stories. The narratives can be positive calling us toward the good, motivating us to reach... Continue Reading →
The Ethical Divide
I don’t know why, but, I listen to the speeches that President Trump gives to gatherings with a moral tint to them. (I’d like to think it is an unbiased interest, but, I think it is somewhat colored by the unqualified support some religious leaders have given him). This started with his speech at Liberty... Continue Reading →
Study to show thyself approved?
“It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people. ” ― John Wesley Jon Wesley remains one of the greatest saints of the Church, a self-styled “man of one book” (the Bible) and one of the best read individuals... Continue Reading →
Creation Care
In a conversation this weekend, I was asked to clarify my thoughts on creation care, and since my answer provides some background to my previous post I thought I would jot down my answer. My theology of creation begins with Colossians 1:16 “for in him [Christ] all things in heaven and on earth were created,... Continue Reading →
Pittsburgh or Paris
I don’t want to sound like I understand the Paris climate accord, because I don’t. However, I have two concerns following President Trump’s decision to pull out of the agreement. The first is briefly his desire to work out a more favorable deal. I have been left scratching my head as to what he means... Continue Reading →
Healthcare and 1 Peter
A major topic in the news this week has been healthcare, as the Republicans in Congress and President Trump seek to replace the Affordable Care Act (and I have been asked my thoughts). In the interest of full disclosure, I have never endorsed this plan; in fact, I do not know that I am at... Continue Reading →
Sing a New Song
I have been reflecting on Easter and the story of God and one verse kept coming to my mind Psalm 96:1 “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.” I cannot help thinking that the season of Easter is the best time to sing a new song to the... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 