More Than Me

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB Hope – What does Paul mean by the term “God of hope?” Does God hope? Does He wish things would turn out better?…

CROSSING

Crossing: The Struggle for Identity is an investigation of Jacob and Jabbok.  Of course, that fateful night is not just about his encounter with the stranger.  It is about several generations of trauma, family issues, relationship crisis and the struggle to find his own identity.  In this regard, it is also our story.  Until we…

The Words of Words

If a lion could talk, we could not understand him. Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations Understand – You won’t find this sentence in the Bible, so don’t bother to look. But you will find the idea behind Wittgenstein’s insight.[1] The idea is that the meaning of words cannot be fully explained with other words. What is…

The Law of Grace

If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. Psalm 119:92-93 NASB Affliction – Does this verse as it is translated make any sense? How can delight in Torah rescue someone from death due to…

An Answer to Your Faithfulness

Some time ago I asked you to pray for two of our community, Tim and Rusty.  Here’s what has happened. From Tim:  Katie, my daughter, is doing better, her spirits are more positive. However she is still struggling with finding friends who are dependable and encouraging. Because she gravitates to those who are hurting she…

Funeral Feelings

“He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13 NASB Compassion – Nain. The village named “pleasant” or “beautiful.” But on this day the Hebrew name does not fit the mood at all. Today is the day of a funeral. Today is a mother’s worst nightmare – death invades life….

Helplessly Angry

Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along, like the miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun. Psalm 58:8 NASB Miscarriages – I’m angry. Are you? I’m angry that the wicked prevail. I’m angry that I have to struggle while they seem to have lives of ease. I’m…