
Coming Soon: The Day of the LORD, Isaiah 13 & 14
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash If "The Day of the LORD" were a blockbuster movie, Isaiah 13-14 could be its movie trailer. In these two chapters, the prophet flashes scenes of devastation interspersed with heart-rending love…

The Unimpressive Shoot Who Makes Us Sing
The election 2020 candidates have all tried to impress us, but it's the unimpressive "shoot from the root of Jesse" who will make us sing.Today we cast our vote. What will tomorrow bring? The end of campaign rhetoric at the very least.…

Real Hope for Real Times Isaiah 9:1-7
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Sometimes my hope seems like wishful thinking more than the real thing. As we face our nation's elections one week from today, wishful thinking won't cut it. Positivity will fall short. Slogans and campaign…

In God We Trust? Ancient Words for Today’s Headlines
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"In God We Trust" is stamped on the back of every coin and dollar bill in my wallet. But it's the $20 on the front that I often trust in more. "We all have control issues," said the preacher…

Three Steps to Stop a National Crisis: Isaiah 6
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Three steps. That's what the advertisers always promise, right? Three easy steps to lose weight, stop smoking, write a best seller or ... (fill in the blank).But what if it's not just a…

The Power of Words: Isaiah 1-5
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Winston Churchill didn't just see clearly, he spoke powerfully. His words steadied England during the worst year of World War II. His words also filled a book I read this past year, The Splendid and the Vile by…

Isaiah for Dummies: New Blog Series
image creditDo you feel like a dummy when you open Isaiah? I do. That's why I've entitled this new Blog Bible Study series Isaiah for Dummies. Much like its many practical counterparts-- Windows for Dummies, Football for Dummies, etc.--this…

The Counter Cultural Gospel at Work
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Talking about Jesus at work can be awkward. But living the counter cultural truths of his gospel can open the door to fruitful conversations.Do you feel the tension of wanting to be faithful to your boss,…

Whose Energy? Applying Mark 16
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How do you get things done? Recently, I realized that anxiety fuels most of my work. Tornado energy, I call it. What other kind is there?Mark alerted me the other day, "Honey, we're almost out of…

What Were You Expecting? Studying Mark 16
APhoto by Claudia Wolff on UnsplashWhat was I expecting from my first summer job? I’d heard death changes everything. But I saw it firsthand that summer.I had taken a job as a nurse's aide to make money for college. As I made my way…