While it’s true that when we think of the book of Exodus mothers don’t immediately pop into our minds, it is nonetheless the case that in addition to Jochebed, his mother, there were at least five other women who had a significant impact on Moses’ life. Two of these were Shiprah and Puah. They were HebrewContinue reading “A Midwife Crisis”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Shaped by the Story
We are all shaped by stories, aren’t we? A tender-hearted teenager hears a speaker talk about their work as a medical missionary and they decide right then and there that’s what they want to do with their life. Someone else reads a biography of a Navy Seal and thinks, “That’s for me!” This kind ofContinue reading “Shaped by the Story”
What Makes a Church Special?
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Paul to the Ephesians in 1:16 of his letter. Here’s one of those verses that’s easy to rush right past. It’s not hard to think of Paul’s statement as being the first century equivalent of asking someone today, ”How are you doing.” We don’tContinue reading “What Makes a Church Special?”
Jesus And Virtue Signaling
Dictionary.com defines virtue signaling as “the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue.” Although social media has certainly provided the means for this to be done on a larger scale than ever before, there is absolutelyContinue reading “Jesus And Virtue Signaling”
The Walk of Life (3)
Paul has more to say about the disciples’ walk in Ephesians 5. He begins by telling us we are to “walk in the way of love” (v. 2). Love has a way (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) and despite what popular culture tells us, it has very little to do with our feelings. If you look Paul’s listContinue reading “The Walk of Life (3)”
The Walk of Life (4)
They had known each other since they were ten years old. They went to the same school, grew up in the same neighborhood, played ball together, spent the night at each other’s house, and did all the other things that good friends do. Somewhere in their early to mid-teens, they began to drift apart. SomeContinue reading “The Walk of Life (4)”
The Way of Jesus
Charlie Brown is walking in his neighborhood at night and he come across Linus who is holding a candle. He asks him about it and Linus says he has heard it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Charlie Brown agrees but says there are some people who see things differently.Continue reading “The Way of Jesus”
The Walk of Life (1)
Paul’s letters often fall into a basic, two-part division. The first part is theology while the second is about turning theology into biography. Paul follows this pattern in Ephesians with the first three chapters focusing on teaching and the last three on living. Paul could reach up into the heavens on subjects, but he wasContinue reading “The Walk of Life (1)”
The Walk of Life (2)
2. They are to walk differently than the world. In addressing what appears to be a largely Gentile church, Paul tells them they can’t be saved by Jesus and yet live like they don’t know Him. They can’t live like their unredeemed friends and family. That was how they used to walk when they “followed theContinue reading “The Walk of Life (2)”
Scale & Scope (1)
Our grandsons like to fish. The verdict is still out on the granddaughter (she’s six years old), but the boys are locked in. The ones in Arkansas are blessed in that they have a regular place to fish, so we get a quite a few pictures from their outings. I taught them early on whatContinue reading “Scale & Scope (1)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 