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”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
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”
When Jesus Sang
It’s one of those “orphan” verses in the Bible. You know, the kind that sit by themselves, alone, isolated—usually because what comes before or after grabs our attention. In fact, it might be one of those verses that someone unfamiliar with the Bible would notice before a regular Bible reader because regular readers tend to read inContinue reading “When Jesus Sang”
Faith And The Flesh
Many of us have seen the commercials advertising DNA kits that can be purchased for under $100. We’re told if we’ll spit into a tube or swab the inside of our cheek, they’ll tell us if we’re 13% Tanzanian, 12% Cherokee or 14% Belgian—or all of the above! It’s presented in a here’s-the-truth-that-will-transform-your-life sort ofContinue reading “Faith And The Flesh”
Brought To Light
Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was to explore the outdoors. I remember treks into the woods and fields and the magical discoveries there in regard to nature and wildlife. As a younger child I can recall the glory of turning over sizable stones and the fascination of what was found underContinue reading “Brought To Light”
Breaking Open The Jar
It was “very expensive perfume” (Mark 14:3). Her critics said it was worth more than a year’s wages (v. 5). Perhaps in their anger they were exaggerating as people have been known to do when objecting to something, so let’s put it at a year’s wages. I found some perfume online from Bloomingdale’s that isContinue reading “Breaking Open The Jar”
Water Is Thicker Than Blood
Family is important. It is how God brings us into the world. It is the incubator where we are raised and nurtured. It is responsible for so much of who we are and what we become. Furthermore, we’ve all seen how communities can crumble in the absence of strong families. And yet . . .Continue reading “Water Is Thicker Than Blood”
Virtual Faith
An important thing to keep in mind about virtual reality is that it is virtual. That doesn’t make it bad, uninteresting, or less fun, but it does mean that it’s not to be confused with something that is real. If you think about it from a historical perspective, virtual reality (in one form or another)Continue reading “Virtual Faith”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 