Most of us are familiar with the puffer fish. We’ve seen pictures of them in their bloated state where they look like they are auditioning for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Not surprisingly, balloon fish is another name for them). Blowing themselves up is a defensive response the fish make to any perceived danger—they quicklyContinue reading “Puffed Up and Proud”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Taking Off Our Sandals
Tim Friede has been bitten by poisonous snakes over 200 times in 17 years. It hasn’t killed him because his body has somehow developed an immunity to snake venom. He demonstrated this recently while being interviewed, when he allowed a Black Mamba to bite him several times. Normally, a Mamba’s bite can be fatal inContinue reading “Taking Off Our Sandals”
And What Gets You Out of Bed?
The Sabbath had been anything but a day of rest for Him who was its Lord! He had taught in the synagogue, casting an evil spirit out of one of the people there. Then He retreated to the home of Peter and Andrew where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. After darkness set in there was a knock at the door—”theContinue reading “And What Gets You Out of Bed?”
Thanks
There’s power in words because they can communicate what’s happening in our hearts. “I love you” is a phrase that comes to mind because it tells someone that they are a special person whom we hold dear. But there are lots of other words that convey important truths: peace, joy, and hope, are a few thatContinue reading “Thanks”
Growing a Greater Vision of God
The Tipping Point was Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book in 2000 and the first of several best sellers. It probed the forces behind societal change and proposed to explain “how little things can make a big difference” (the book’s sub-title). For example, Gladwell popularized the broken-window theory. This theory says that when a window in a buildingContinue reading “Growing a Greater Vision of God”
Hypocrisy and Heart-Guarding
Hypocrisy is one of those words that’s easy to bandy about with little or no thought as to what the word actually means. It’s an extreme term that tends to be over-employed because people want to show their outrage or throw a verbal hand grenade (as opposed to being accurate and truthful in their speech).Continue reading “Hypocrisy and Heart-Guarding”
Guilt, Shame, and Grace
Guilt and shame are two of the most powerful spiritual forces known to humanity. The two words are interchangeable for most people, but strictly speaking, guilt is what we experience when we do something wrong, while shame is what we experience when we are wrong. Guilt is more about the deed and shame is moreContinue reading “Guilt, Shame, and Grace”
Paul’s Exit Strategy
Paul is in prison as he writes the church at Philippi. He might be in Rome (as traditionally thought), Caesarea, or even Ephesus (N.T. Wright). But wherever he is, he wishes the disciples at Philippi to know that “what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (1:12). The word for advance (prokope)Continue reading “Paul’s Exit Strategy”
When God Shows His Colors
The story of Noah begins the second cycle of the Genesis narrative (Brueggemann). In the first cycle, we see the creation of the world followed by rebellion—first through Adam and Eve, then by Cain, and finally Lamech (4:19ff). In the second cycle, we see rebellion (6:5ff) followed by re-creation, as God destroys the world inContinue reading “When God Shows His Colors”
Repentance and Coming to God
One of the ways that a faith that is full, alive, and vital will manifest itself is in what the Scripture refers to as repentance. (I’ve borrowed significantly from J.W. McGarvey on the first three points). 1. Repentance is more than being sorry about your sins. In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul is discussing an earlier letter he wrote to theContinue reading “Repentance and Coming to God”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 