Early in the pastorate, parents of six children called me to their home. The beloved family pet had died, and the kids had important questions they needed answered: “Will we see our dog again? Is he in heaven?” I recall giving a theological response that probably left them a little cold—something about only humans having […]
“This is the carefree city that lived in safety. She said to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me’” (Zephaniah 2:15). The Assyrians were saying this about themselves. Let’s call their thinking: carnal security. It’s a stupefied approach to life that is satisfied with self. The prophet Obadiah observed it in the Edomites […]
If you hadn’t heard of him before, you probably have since May 21, 2011 is now behind us. Harold Camping, the self-described Bible scholar and radio station mogul, proclaimed that was the day Christians were out of here (his understanding of “the rapture”—which is an entirely different matter, by the way) and the day the […]
A few Friday’s ago, man celebrated the “41st Earth Day,” cleaning mother earth by picking up garbage, planting trees, and promoting composting. On that same day (Good Friday), the church celebrated the Father sending the Son to die on a cross to clean us. The competing celebrations offered quite the contrast. One was man’s effort […]
