Humanity has such a “fortress” mentality. One of our deepest needs is to feel safe.
Starting Over
Heart of Darkness
The corruption was so vast and so evil that God actually regrets that he made man in the first place and is deeply grieved to see what has become of the special creature He made in His own image. And because the evil is so radical and so pervasive, God performs an equally radical and pervasive form of surgery.
Anatomy of Sin
Who knows how long Adam and Eve lived and worked in the glory of Eden. What we do know is that there came a day when paradise wasn’t enough. Tempted by Satan, they disobeyed God. They fell into sin. And because of their exalted position - literally God’s vice-regents on earth - all of creation suffered the consequences of their tragic choice.
In the Beginning...Jesus
In the beginning...
Readings for the Day: Genesis 1 & 2
Nothing. Emptiness. Void. Before time. Before space. Before matter. There was only God. Already Trinity. Already Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Existing from eternity in Three Persons. Complete. Full. Rich. God needed nothing. God lacked nothing. God was eternally satisfied in Himself. Decision. Resolve. Commitment. God choosing to create. God choosing to bring forth life and light and beauty and order. God choosing to love and be loved.
Let there be Light!
Let there be Heaven!
Let there be Earth and Seas!
Let there be plants, trees, and flowers!
Let there stars and sun and moon!
Let there be fish and birds!
Let there be beasts on the earth!
Something. Time and space and matter now come into being. A universe filled with stars and planets and galaxies bursts into being. The first sunrise. The first sunset. Tides begin. The first buds appear on the earth. The first babies are born on the earth and in the sea. And through it all, there is God. Still lacking nothing. Still needing nothing. Still eternally satisfied but deeply in love with all He creates.
Out of love, God provides a guardian. Someone to take care of all He has made. A creature made in His own image. Male and female, they too are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. They are given a sacred charge. To subdue the earth. To hold dominion over creation. God entrusting to them a precious gift. They are to steward life. To make sure it flourishes and God’s good purposes come to pass. They are to nurture and care for it. They are to work and keep it. They are to guard and protect it.
So much gets lost in the debates over whether creation happened in six literal 24-hour days. Or whether the plural first person (“Let us make...”) is an early reference to the Trinity or simply the use of the royal “we” that was common in Ancient Near East literature. Or parsing the differences between the two creation accounts, one poetry (Gen. 1) and one prose (Gen. 2), that we lose sight of the point of the text.
God creates something out of nothing. Brings order to chaos. Light to darkness. Fills the void. And then sets humanity up as His vice-regents on the earth. They are given the authority to rule over all He has made in His name. They are to walk in obedience with Him and thereby enjoy a unique relationship with their Creator. They are to work. They are to be fruitful. They are to multiply and fill the earth with the image and glory of God. This is their purpose. This is the role God designed them to play.
Think about all God has entrusted into your hands today. Think about all the responsibilities God has given you. Family. Friends. Work. Wealth. Talent. Ability. How are you stewarding these gifts for His glory? How are you living out your God-given purpose to nurture life today in all you say, think, and do? How will you contribute to the flourishing of those around you?
Drawing Close to God in 2018
Reading the Bible every day is essential to one’s spiritual growth. Not because God has given us homework but because God’s Word is “living and active.” God’s Word is literally “God-breathed.” God’s Word comes alive through the Holy Spirit and speaks to the deepest needs of every human heart. It is the primary way we get to know God and it is the primary way He speaks to us.
How to Vote as a Christian
There is a "moral vision" in the Bible that we can draw wisdom from as we vote on issues that affect us in the 21st century. It will confront us. Challenge us. Force us to come to grips with the fact that we too often settle for what is most expedient rather than what is best for our nation in the long-term. We too often settle for the "lesser of two evils" without acknowledging that the lesser of two evils is still evil. We too often don't consider our own biases, prejudices, and privilege when we vote and that prevents us from walking a mile in another person's shoes. Ultimately, we tend to vote for what is in our own best interest rather than the collective good.
The Grief of God
Christian vs. Civil Marriage (Subtitle: "What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?")
Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values and, as a result, the church has enjoyed "home field" advantage for centuries. A respected place in society. Tax relief. Housing allowances. These are just some of the tangible privileges we've grown accustomed to and there are many intangible benefits as well. Those are now going away. We are beginning to taste what life is like for most of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world where the church is not so closely aligned with the state
Let's Read the Bible Together
Why would I read a book - or really a collection of books - that were written over thousands of years, mainly chronicling the journey of a people (the Jews) to which I have no connection, climaxing in the birth, death, and resurrection of a man named Jesus who lived almost two thousand years ago? Why would I not only read these words each year but more importantly, try to pattern my life accordingly? Why would I commit my life to studying this book and teach others to do the same?