Psalm 124 has a line in it I really like. Overall, the Psalm is about how God rescues the Old Testament nation of Israel over and over again. It is a celebration of God’s presence and mercy. The Psalmist says: “We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped. …
Confessions Of A Distracted Listener
Sometimes, I’m not a good listener. Occasionally my mind will wander or my phone will distract me, but more often, I’m not a good listener because I’m thinking about how to react to what I’m hearing. It could be that I’m thinking through what I will say or how to relate to your story, but I also have to concentrate …
Do You Kiss Your Mama With That Mouth? Biblical Edition.
“Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” is one of my favorite sassy phrases. It’s a great retort that can simultaneously correct and teach and, when properly intoned, can even add a dash of shame. It turns out, this phrase has biblical roots. Okay, not really. That’s too much of a stretch. But, there is a passage in the …
Maybe Jesus Wants To Open Your Ears
They “begged” Jesus to heal the man (Mark 7:31-37). Scripture says he was “a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech” (Mark 7:32). Jesus told the man’s ears and mouth to “Be Opened.” In Mark’s characteristic style, we are told that Jesus took action “and immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke …
It’s What’s Inside That Matters
Another title for this blog post could easily have been “Rules & Fools Like Me.” I’m a rule-follower. When I cook, I like to start with a recipe. When I buy something, I like to know the return policy. When I sign a contract, I focus on two things—what I’m expected to do and the cancellation terms. Come to think …
When God Talks Crazy
How do we respond when Jesus says something crazy? If you’ve read thru the Gospels, or even just a Gospel or two, you’ve probably noticed that Jesus says some crazy things. He says we should turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38) and we should be born “again” (John 3:3). Jesus tells us to “give to EVERYONE who begs from [us]” …
Honesty (About Yourself) Is The Best Policy
There is a well-known (and yet completely unknown) group of people with a lot of wisdom. They. They say honesty is the best policy and I think They are right. Sometimes, however, we use honesty as an excuse or a cover for—dare I say it so bluntly—rudeness. We turn honesty into a weapon against others when really we should use …
Looking In The Spiritual Mirror
Sometimes, looking in the mirror brings us face to face with things we’d rather not see. The mirror shows us our flaws up close and personal. Looking in a spiritual mirror can do the same thing. In Psalm 51, the Psalmist has looked in the spiritual mirror and come face to face with the ugliness that lies within: “I know …
Abundant Love Means Leftovers
At least once every summer, we throw a party for the church youth group. They come to our house and play games, swim in the pool, and eat pizza. Although it might sound like insanity to some people, we love having a house full of teenagers! We’ve done this for a few years now and we’ve learned there are three …
God Goes Where God Is Needed
Dr. Ellen Charry, a professor I once had, explained the incarnation this way: “The story of God in Jesus is not the coming of God to us … rather, in Jesus, God comes as us, so precious are we to God.” Prior to Jesus, God came to humanity through Israel (through Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the prophets, and others). For that …