I suppose prayer language is a bit like barbecue—each region has its own distinctive flavor. Some phrases seem to have made the circuit and are employed everywhere (guide, guard and direct, until the next appointed time, well-pleasing in Thy sight). Then there’s one I’ve only heard a handful of times, but I really gravitate toward: traveling mercies. It’sContinue reading “Traveling Mercies”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Rescue from the Heart of Darkness
In the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples, we are told to pray that God will “lead us not into temptation.” This strikes many people as a little strange because it seems to suggest that without this petition, God would lead us into temptation—a conclusion that is clearly out of sync with God’s character (1 JohnContinue reading “Rescue from the Heart of Darkness”
Falling Into Fruitfulness
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jesus in John 12:24). We are born with two fears—the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. The sensation of falling is an uncomfortable one. Think ofContinue reading “Falling Into Fruitfulness”
Great Or Small?
Our need for God’s forgiveness (as well as its relationship to us forgiving others), is brought home in a major way in a story that Luke records in 7:36-50 of his gospel. Following Tiede (Augsburg Commentary), it seems that having shown Jesus’ teaching (“When Jesus has finished saying all of this” – v. 1), LukeContinue reading “Great Or Small?”
The Subversive Gospel
SUB-VER-SIVE – adj. Intending or intended to subvert an established order, especially to undermine or overthrow an established government. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) We don’t normally think of the message about Jesus as being subversive. That’s to our poverty because it absolutely is. After all, becoming a follower is spoken ofContinue reading “The Subversive Gospel”
Scared of the stink
Martha was scared of the stink. When Jesus told them to “Take away the stone” from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha shot back with, “But Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days” (John 11:39). We do this godly lady an injustice if we understand these words as reflectingContinue reading “Scared of the stink”
God Is With Us!
Matthew’s gospel was written to Jewish disciples in the years prior to Jerusalem’s destruction (AD 70). Tension between the synagogue and the church was continuing to escalate, and life was difficult for the follower of Jesus. By beginning his gospel with a genealogy connecting Jesus to Abraham and David (1:1), Matthew was, in a sense,Continue reading “God Is With Us!”
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”
More, More, More
Greed is the state of wanting more than you need. It’s never a good look. It’s the attitude that says, “More, more, more!” when there is no legitimate purpose or reason for it. People can be greedy because of status. They buy into the lie that you are what you own. They are under theContinue reading “More, More, More”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 