Dr. Oliver Sacks is Professor of Neurology at NYU School of Medicine but he’s best known for the dozen or so books he’s written. Most of these chronicle his clinical work over the years and deal with patients with unique and intriguing issues. The titles of his books tend to reflect this: The Man who MistookContinue reading “Seeing Jesus in New Ways”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Keeping Our Eyes on God
We’ve all heard that, “You can’t have a relationship without rules.” And it’s true. Friendships, marriages, and families all need the framework, support, and structure of rules. Although we don’t normally think of it this way, a wedding ceremony is the formalizing of a covenant between the bride and the groom. They exchange vows toContinue reading “Keeping Our Eyes on God”
Following Jesus in Determination
The professional exam lasted the entire day. He had been preparing for it for several months. This included hours of study, answering a few thousand practice questions, and attending a four day seminar in another state at a personal cost of $1,300. The exam was taken on a computer. During the test, a storm movedContinue reading “Following Jesus in Determination”
First Principles
It’s not uncommon (wherever you are) to hear someone say, “We need more teaching and preaching on first principles.” That may or may not be true—it depends upon the particular situation and circumstances they’re part of. I’m much more interested in exploring what we mean by the phrase “first principles.” My guess is that inContinue reading “First Principles”
Fearing Wrong and Trusting Right
Fearfulness is an overarching theme of Luke 12:1-34. Although the words of Jesus range from encouraging His disciples to remain strong in the face of persecution, a story about a foolish farmer, to teaching His disciples to be kingdom seekers above all else—the common thread is fearfulness. “Fear,” “afraid,” and “worry” occur 11 times inContinue reading “Fearing Wrong and Trusting Right”
Facing the Improbable
Luke does a compare/contrast with Zechariah and Mary in the first chapter of his gospel. Both love and serve God, are visited by the angel Gabriel, and are about to have unexpected sons who will alter the course of Israel and the world. Finally, both appear to have similar responses to the astounding news aboutContinue reading “Facing the Improbable”
Bubbles and Hazmat Suits
It’s been several years, but I remember a youth minister informing to me that he and his wife weren’t going to watch anything other than PG-13 movies. He said that way he could tell young people not to watch R-rated movies and be consistent. I told him I appreciated his concern for both himself andContinue reading “Bubbles and Hazmat Suits”
A Great Place To Be
Beverly Gaventa notes how “prayerful thanksgiving dominates 1 Thessalonians.” Paul pauses three times in the first three chapters to give thanks (1:2, 2:13, 3:9). At the end of the letter, he encourages the disciples to “give thanks in all circumstances” (5:18). In all of this, he’s not simply repeating himself nor is he trying toContinue reading “A Great Place To Be”
Why Did God Create Man?
God created man to bless him—fully, richly and deeply! In the creation account we hear words like blessed, fruitful, fill, subdue, rule over and I give all made in reference to him (Genesis 1:28-29). The highest expression of his favor lies in the fact that he is made to be an image-bearer of the Trinity (v. 27). Man may choose something less forContinue reading “Why Did God Create Man?”
When God Shows His Colors
The story of Noah begins the second cycle of the Genesis narrative (Brueggemann). In the first cycle, we see the creation of the world followed by rebellion—first through Adam and Eve, then by Cain, and finally Lamech (4:19ff). In the second cycle, we see rebellion (6:5ff) followed by re-creation, as God destroys the world inContinue reading “When God Shows His Colors”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 