Northern California is the location of the giant sequoia trees. According to information from The Sequoia National Park website, the tallest of them tops out at somewhere around 300 feet with a base circumference of 40 feet. Their branches can be up to 8 feet in diameter and their bark is three feet thick. They weigh up to 2.7 millionContinue reading “Starry, Starry Night”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Oscar And Joseph
As much as I love movies, I haven’t been able to watch the Academy Awards for years. Actors and actresses preening on the red carpet; wearing the best clothes money can rent, with the best bodies surgery can produce, sporting some of the most decadent lifestyles and troubled relationships you could imagine — and all competingContinue reading “Oscar And Joseph”
Losing Our Religion
Morning Edition recently did a series called Losing Our Religion. Predictably, it focused on the demise of organized religion. The segment I listened to quoted the Pew Research Center’s findings that one-third of people under 30 have opted out of any religious affiliation. They are known as the nones. (To me, the more compelling storyline would have beenContinue reading “Losing Our Religion”
Limping Into The Sunrise (1)
Whatever conclusions you draw about Jacob’s character (or the lack of it), you have to grant that he had some help getting there. His grandfather and father struggled with telling the truth at times (Genesis 12:11ff, 20:1ff, 26:7ff), while his mother, Rebekah, instigated and served as his accomplice in the deception of his father, Isaac (27:5ff).Continue reading “Limping Into The Sunrise (1)”
Limping Into The Sunrise (2)
We’ve rehearsed the account of Jacob wrestling with the angel before his reconciliation with Esau and his return to Canaan. As with all communication though, the question isn’t simply knowing what was said—we have to continue down the road by determining what was meant. Why did Moses tell us this story? What is its purpose?Continue reading “Limping Into The Sunrise (2)”
Lighting Or Cursing
Times were dark for Israel and there was a reason for it. We’re told by the writer of Judges that, “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel,” (2:10). Their problem wasn’t a lack of information; it was a lack of appreciation. The nation had been given all kinds of tools toContinue reading “Lighting Or Cursing”
Joseph’s Brothers
It shouldn’t be that difficult for us to understand why Joseph’s brothers have a problem believing that he has forgiven them. After all, they were used to treating others in a manner that was much less than what they deserved (see Genesis 34 & 37), so they can’t relate to someone treating them better than they deserve. I don’t think they’reContinue reading “Joseph’s Brothers”
Follow The Gold
Israel must have been quite a sight as they were leaving Egypt. On their shoulders they carried their kneading troughs full of unleavened dough wrapped with clothing to keep the sand out (12: 34). They were also loaded down with parting gifts from the Egyptians consisting of gold, silver, and clothing (v. 35-36). They had just beenContinue reading “Follow The Gold”
Everything Else Is Just Hype
There’s more to the account of Simon the magician (Acts 8:4-24) than sometimes meets the eye. One of the overarching concerns in Luke-Acts is the kingdom of God. Luke uses the phrase almost 40 times in the two books. He begins Acts by telling Theophilus about the 40 days Jesus spent with the apostles after His resurrection, and howContinue reading “Everything Else Is Just Hype”
Defying The Darkness
In his inspirational book, A Touch of Wonder, Arthur Gordon tells of a grave stone put up somewhere in England after one of the horrific bombings of WWII. Inscribed on it were these words: There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one small candle. The stone marked the grave of aContinue reading “Defying The Darkness”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 