However else we are to understand Qoheleth (the “Teacher” or “Preacher”) in Ecclesiastes, it seems to me that it is important to pay attention to his wisdom statements—especially those where he speaks of his search for wisdom. The first such statement occurs in 1:16-17: “I said to myself, look I have increased in wisdom moreContinue reading “Faith and Philosophy”
Category Archives: Coming to God
The Search for Significance
Was Maslow right and self-actualization is the end all of human existence? (Although Maslow later modified the hierarchy, his original version is what he is remembered for). Or was John Lennon right when he said/sang there was no heaven? While Maslow’s apex was individualistic, Lennon’s goal (at least in “Imagine”), was more communitarian (“the worldContinue reading “The Search for Significance”
Dying to See
Paul will tell the disciples in Rome they are to count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (6:11). He has previously spoken of baptism as being the place where they “died to sin” (v. 2) and were “baptized into His death” (v. 3)—that is, the death of Jesus. What does he mean? Jesus’Continue reading “Dying to See”
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
I heard the following story on Moth Radio on Fathers’ Day weekend some years ago. It is about a husband and wife who have just experienced the birth of their first child—a girl. The father is sent from the hospital to a grocery store across the street to get a few items. He’s on oneContinue reading “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”
Touching Home
I had been asked to speak in our church’s summer series. The topic I had was, What more is there to life? The theme of the series was, Questions That Shape Belief, and some of the other topics/questions were, Who is Jesus and Why did He die? and Why and How do I pray? As you can see, my question wasContinue reading “Touching Home”
If the Water is Rising . . .
Greenford is a community of about 50,000 in West London (in the borough of Ealy). You won’t be surprised when I tell you it rains there quite a bit or that they’ve had some issues with flooding—so much so that they were going to spend a significant sum building a reservoir and levy. Until somethingContinue reading “If the Water is Rising . . .”
From the Far Side of the Moon
Last month, Artemis II successfully completed its 10-day mission and what a mission it was! It was the first crewed flight toward the moon in over fifty years. They traveled farther from the Earth (250,000 miles) than anyone in history. And we were introduced to words like earthrise and earthset (MS Word keeps telling meContinue reading “From the Far Side of the Moon”
The Context of Faith
Bible students know the importance of context. Context allows us to see a passage of Scripture for what it actually says as opposed to what, at first glance, it might be s-e-e-m to be saying. You can see this illustrated by comparing Satan’s presentation of Psalm 91:11-12 with Jesus’ (Matthew 4; Luke 4). Satan ignoredContinue reading “The Context of Faith”
Resurrecting Jesus
It’s Easter morning and Jesus needs resurrecting. Not from His tomb— He left that three days after His death. I don’t know many people who’ve taken a serious look at the New Testament and remained unconvinced of His rising from the dead. There have been quite a few who have read with doubts and endedContinue reading “Resurrecting Jesus”
Thinking Big About The Cross
If you lived in a village in France during either World War, your attention would be riveted on the war as it related to where you were. How close is the fighting? Are you in danger of being bombed or invaded? How is the food supply? If you have to evacuate, where will you go?Continue reading “Thinking Big About The Cross”
