When Pete spoke these words to Ulysses and Delmar in the movie theater in O Brother Where Art Thou?, he had given them up to Sheriff Cooley. If they went after the treasure as they were planning, it would be at the cost of their lives. Since Ulysses and Delmar were not the most discerning of individuals (WeContinue reading ““Do Not Seek The Treasure””
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Pilgrimage
I’m standing on the front porch looking out into rain. It’s the day before we move. We’ve lived in the house for fifteen years—fifteen years of abundance, blessing, and a few heartaches. There’s nothing luxurious about the house, but it’s comfortable. There’s room for entertaining, for our Home Group (a fellowship group from church), andContinue reading “Pilgrimage”
Will God Reign in the Rain?
Chapters 1-4 of 1 Corinthians are a unit where Paul takes aim at the divisiveness and fragmentation of the church. This discord was reflected in the alliances they had formed over different teachers. It was all quite competitive—and equally unhealthy. We tend to align ourselves with someone or something because it reflects our own likesContinue reading “Will God Reign in the Rain?”
I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God
There was no shortage of wisdom at Corinth! Their philosophers, poets, statesmen, and orators were brimming over with it. There was the wisdom of their gods. Corinth was a seaport and only fifty miles from Athens so like them, they would have had a god for every occasion and just to be safe—they probably also hadContinue reading “I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God”
A Kingdom Divided Against Itself
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2) Things had gotten sideways at Corinth. Not only had the disciples gone rogue in following different teachers, it appearsContinue reading “A Kingdom Divided Against Itself”
Sheila’s Great Escape
Say “hello” or maybe “g’day” to Sheila. If you think you had a tough day Tuesday, think about Sheila’s day. Sheila is the personal pet of a family who operates a 500-acre animal ranch and pumpkin patch in Auburn, Alabama, called Choctafaula. It is billed as “Auburn’s Natural Escape.” Apparently, Sheila took the escape part toContinue reading “Sheila’s Great Escape”
Rooting ourselves in community
It’s no secret to anyone who spends any time in 1 Corinthians that the disciples at Corinth were experiencing some serious problems due to their divisiveness. Paul points this out at the start (1:10ff) and returns to it frequently throughout the letter. It is one of the major themes of 1 Corinthians. I suppose thereContinue reading “Rooting ourselves in community”
Romans Review
Here’s an acrostic of Romans to remind us about some of the big things we learn from Paul’s letter. The R in Romans is for rich. Romans doesn’t teach us this, but it’s certainly something we learn from spending time in the book. It is one of the richest books in Scripture. What makes it that way? Continue reading “Romans Review”
“You’re a good nurse”
I’m rewatching Band of Brothers—it’s the WW2 series based on the book by Stephen Ambrose and created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks—not long after they worked together on Saving Private Ryan. The series focuses on Easy Company, a parachute infantry regiment that is attached to the 101st Airborne Division. Ambrose interviewed surviving members of Easy Company forContinue reading ““You’re a good nurse””
Let’s Work Together
The disciples at Rome were having trouble accepting each other (15:7). From what Paul says in 14:1ff, it’s clear that their challenges arose not from the kinds of things we’re used to hearing about causing church divisions (doctrinal issues, personality problems, or squabbles about preachers)—but rather over matters that flowed from their different cultures. AsContinue reading “Let’s Work Together”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 