Our three grandsons (7, 9, 11) were watching a water polo match on television during the ’24 summer Olympic Games. The players were jostling for position, splashing up a storm, all while trying to either throw a ball into the net or prevent the other team from doing so. The boys thought it looked likeContinue reading “Are Your Feet Touching the Bottom?”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Israel, the Pharisees, and Prayer
Israel wanted a king (1 Samuel 8)! There were some legitimate reasons why they needed a king. A king would help them to be something more than the loose confederation of tribes they were—characterized by infighting and the failure to come to the aid of each other when under attack (see the book of Judges). Furthermore,Continue reading “Israel, the Pharisees, and Prayer”
A Glorious Rescue Day
It was a gloriously transcendent spring morning. I know that sounds like I’m overstating the matter, but trust me I’m not. For some time it had been overcast, cool, and dreary but the sudden appearance of blue sky and warm sun seemed to have instantly turned everything into a shade of green that would have beenContinue reading “A Glorious Rescue Day”
The Tree of Trust (1)
“You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” Genesis 2:17. Of all the trees in the Garden of Eden, there was one special tree. It was in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:19), perhaps to underscore the significant role it played in the continued closeness of fellowship thatContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (1)”
The Tree of Trust (2)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6.) Is God good? In essence, that is what Satan wants to know when he asks Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat from ANY tree in theContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (2)”
The Tree of Trust (3)
“To us who are being saved, it is the power of God,” (Paul to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1:18). The good news is that God is good. He’s not only better than we are, He is good beyond our ability to understand. In the greatness of His goodness, He has provided another treeContinue reading “The Tree of Trust (3)”
Bad Actors
“Bad actors” refers primarily to people who consistently muddle through a stage, television, or movie performance. A secondary usage has to do with those who are up to no good, but I’m not sure that was very well known until a few years ago. That’s when the security industry began to use the phrase forContinue reading “Bad Actors”
From Now On
It’s a familiar story in Luke 5. Peter and his companions have been fishing a-l-l night and come up empty. They’re tired. They had expectations that weren’t met, so they’re disappointed and discouraged as well. They just want to wash their nets and head home (v. 2). You can feel their fatigue. Jesus is also thereContinue reading “From Now On”
Healthy Holiness
Peter was writing to Jewish disciples living away from their homeland. They were Jews living among Gentiles so there was certainly some pushback from that, but more to the point, they were followers of Jesus of Nazareth, so they were at odds with most people within their already marginalized community—their neighbors, friends and family. It wasContinue reading “Healthy Holiness”
Protective Isn’t Always Productive
Melissa Kirsch writes The Morning newsletter on Saturdays for the NY Times. Because it’s the Saturday edition, her lead piece isn’t about hard news—it’s usually lifestyle oriented. As Kirsch says, “My beat is broadly about how to live a meaningful life.” Saturday’s edition contained this gem: My retreat into books while on the train isContinue reading “Protective Isn’t Always Productive”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 