John’s nativity scene is much different than what we find in Luke’s account. There’s no trip to Bethlehem, shepherds in the field, or angels singing. It’s more theological than biographical. It consists of him telling us that “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us,” (1:14). That’s a pretty impressive resume and youContinue reading “A Look at John’s Manger (1)”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
A Great Plan for Life
Every spring at graduation, the years’ honorees hear an insidious untruth proclaimed over and over. It is delivered with the absolute best of intentions and from the purest of heart—but that will not change its—falsehood or its potential harmfulness. What am I speaking of? “You can be anything you want to be.” Those eight wordsContinue reading “A Great Plan for Life”
Stepping into the Story
I suppose as long as there have been summer vacations there have been children who had to write about what they did on them. And as long as there have been vacations of any kind, there have been people like us who took way too many pictures. We can post those pictures, but it’s muchContinue reading “Stepping into the Story”
Aaahh, Joseph!
The angel tells Joseph that his beloved Mary is pregnant not by another man as he has supposed, but by the Holy Spirit of God (Matthew 1:20). Matthew lines their situation up with Isaiah’s prophecy, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,” (1:23/Isaiah 7:14). Joseph has two things to do: accept MaryContinue reading “Aaahh, Joseph!”
Last Meals and Living Hope
Asleep at the Wheel is the name of a group that plays western swing music. Several years ago they recorded a song called Last Meal. It is a fictitious account of a man on death row about to be executed. However, before his execution can take place, the warden tells him he gets a lastContinue reading “Last Meals and Living Hope”
Background on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is the final book written by Moses and a fitting conclusion to the Pentateuch (the first five books of Scripture). Genesis is the book of beginnings. Exodus advances the story from Egypt to the wilderness and ends with the construction of the tabernacle. Leviticus furnishes Israel with laws concerning the tabernacle and sacrificial system.Continue reading “Background on Deuteronomy”
He Cares!
As the Jewish leaders plotted His death, Jesus withdrew to a presumably remote part of Lake Galilee (Mark 3:7). While the leaders may not have been up to pursuing Him at this time, the people of the area were—although for completely different reasons. Then, when news spread about “all He was doing” (v. 8), moreContinue reading “He Cares!”
Overcoming
If there is anything disciples should hold near and dear to their heart, it’s a message about overcoming. After all, it doesn’t always feel or seem as if we’re overcoming, does it? And there are times when we’re convinced it is anything but that. We feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and quite possibly, defeated. At such times,Continue reading “Overcoming”
A Great Place to Start
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Eve, and then Adam, committed relational infidelity against God when they asserted their autonomy and deified their desire. They decided they could and would act independently of Gods’ loving will for them and pursue their own agenda. That in a nutshell, is the historyContinue reading “A Great Place to Start”
There Is No Substitute!
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (John in 2 John v. 12) John had a lot on his heart that he wanted to share withContinue reading “There Is No Substitute!”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 