The book of Judges prepares us for the monarchy. In 17:6 and again in 21:25 we hear, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Rather than there being a central human authority who united everyone and led them in the same direction, tribalism prevailed in Israel. We see thisContinue reading “The Strength of the Insignificant”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
The Reaching Hand of the Flawed Man
The psalms are different than the bulk of Scripture in that they are the record of people speaking to God rather than God speaking to people. Under the guidance and oversight of the Spirit, they have become part of the biblical witness. That doesn’t mean everything in them is in line with God’s will orContinue reading “The Reaching Hand of the Flawed Man”
Solar Panel Living
I was playing disc golf with a friend. We’d played at this particular course several times. I said something to my friend about the solar panels that lined the particular stretch we were on. They were mounted on light poles—just above the lights and I said something to the effect that it seemed like aContinue reading “Solar Panel Living”
Body, Blood, Bread & Cup
I was out for a walk early one Sunday morning. I used the time to pray and think about what I would be doing in a few hours—gathering with other disciples and taking the Lord’s Supper. Since I tend to be a bit of a word nerd, I found myself thinking about the words associatedContinue reading “Body, Blood, Bread & Cup”
Blessed
Psalm 128 begins in a way familiar to the psalter—with the word Blessed. Half a dozen psalms start this way and another thirty-seven pronounce this desired state of being at some point in their writing. This much should be clear—God is in the business of blessing people! That’s not just what He does—it’s who He is.Continue reading “Blessed”
Community and Individuality
Lewis Smede’s Shame and Grace is a book that’s been helpful to me and to others I’ve shared it with over the years. Although written over three decades ago (1993), it is remarkably prescient in addressing some of the problems we’re now facing as a culture due to the erosion of personal boundaries. Here are some excerpts:Continue reading “Community and Individuality”
Getting in Line
This is a Fiddle Leaf Fig (FLF)—and this particular plant has quite a story. We acquired it more than 30 years ago when someone sent it for my father’s funeral. After the service, when the flowers and greenery were being parceled out, someone offered it to us and we took it. It was maybe aContinue reading “Getting in Line”
Prayer And The Sick
Sometimes our prayers for the sick aren’t very healthy. You may never have thought about this, but it can be a challenge to pray someone who is sick in a way that honors them and God. Since prayer is not just about expressing what’s on our heart, but also what’s on God’ heart, our prayersContinue reading “Prayer And The Sick”
Faded Flowers and Eternal Life
Ray’s aunt lived on the other side of the bay in Mobile. She was elderly, not in the greatest of health, and he hadn’t heard from her in a few days (and neither had her friends). Looking back on it, I suppose he must have had a fairly strong hunch that something was wrong becauseContinue reading “Faded Flowers and Eternal Life”
I’ve Been to Church!
In Psalms, there is the principle I like to think of as the “I’ve been to church” principle. (Yes, I know disciples are “the church,” but there is also something to the idea of “coming together as a church” – 1 Corinthians 11:18 and I’m after something like that here). You’ve “been to church” when you’veContinue reading “I’ve Been to Church!”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 