A favorite ‘bucket list’ item of spiritual seekers is reading the Bible through at least once in their life, and preferably within a set time frame such as a year. Yet for many who have tried this noble undertaking, Leviticus often stands as the dividing line between the sheep and goats – between those who […]
One of the special treats of deeper Bible study is having a feel for the differences in Paul’s seven authenticated letters (I Thessalonians, Philippians, I and II Corinthians, Philemon, Galatians, and Romans). Years ago I would read various citations from several of them and they’d kind of mush together. But having studied them now in […]
May is an ideal time to focus on leadership, given all the graduations and accompanying speeches. One of the most stirring commencement talks I’ve come across is by the Admiral in charge of U.S. Special Operations Command, William H. McRaven. This link will take you to the speech he delivered at his own alma mater […]
Since our theme is leadership this month of May, let’s talk about a rather obscure event in Jesus’ ministry that illustrates one of leadership’s tougher aspects: declaring the sacred cows of our lives that are broken and need fixing. Matthew 21 tells one of those stories that can leave us scratching our heads more than […]
Women of the Old Testament – like *Sarah or Abigail, Esther or Hagar –are familiar enough through their stories that we probably have a sense of what they’d be like if we could sit down and talk over coffee. Some are testy (Sarah), others astoundingly courageous (Esther); some were put in life-threatening circumstances they brilliantly […]
This Easter season it’s a good time to recall one of the most moving stories following the crucifixion: the two followers, cleopas and his friend, walking to the village of Emmaus. This community was only about five kilometers south of Jerusalem, but the story is about geography with a theological punch: they’re leaving Jerusalem. It […]
