Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. 8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering. I Sam....... Read More

4 The goodness and kindness of God our savior appeared to save us, not because we did anything righteous, but because he is merciful. He cleansed us, made us alive, and created us anew by the Holy Spirit, whom he gives to us without measure. This is all through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who makes...... Read More

“By faith, Abraham heard the call to leave his home for the place he would receive as his inheritance, even though he didn’t know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:18). To me, the most obviously difficult aspects of faith are its unknowingness and seeming invisibility. The story of Abraham is cautionary and emblematic. Every piece...... Read More

The Alelyon (one another) passages in the New Testament: Don’t bite and devour each other, or else you will end up destroying each other (Gal. 5:15), part 3 Our daughter Annie is spending most of this summer volunteering at an orphanage for special needs children. One early morning a few weeks ago I answered my...... Read More

The Alelyon (one another) passages in the New Testament: Don’t bite and devour each other, or else you will end up destroying each other (Gal. 5:15), part 2 I have always been grateful that neither of our kids were biters. This is, of course, a good thing in and of itself. None of us is...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 10: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God. To this point, every Beatitude that we have considered has opened for us a plethora of questions of lesser or greater complexity. This week’s verse is no different, except that I’m...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 7b: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Last week we considered the fact that, when God answers the question, “Who are You?” his self-descriptive disclosure is this: The Lord, the Lord; God gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness … From...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 7a: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. My wife Joanne and I often have a discussion about people whom we know and the positive traits that make them who they are. In some of our conversations, we discuss certain individuals who we are convinced will inhabit a...... Read More