As Americans, I suspect I am in safe territory thinking that most, if not all, of us are familiar with the song, “God Bless America.” Irving Berlin published the song in the fall of 1938 when the world situation was looking very gloomy. Less than twelve months later, Nazi Germany would invade Poland throwing EuropeContinue reading “Which is right (or better), “God Bless America” or “God Bless The Whole World”? – Ezekiel 29-32, Preview”
Tag Archives: bible
How to be a good neighbor, locally and globally – Current Events November 2021, Part 5
So, who is your neighbor? In this Current Events week on the blog, we’ve been talking about neighbors and how we are called to love them. When Faith Church rented space in our building to Burmese Christians, we made new neighbors. This week we’ve been learning about the very difficult situation our Burmese neighbors haveContinue reading “How to be a good neighbor, locally and globally – Current Events November 2021, Part 5”
How Christians are being persecuted in Myanmar – Current Events November 2021, Part 4
This week is Current Events week on the blog, and we learning about the awful civil war in Myanmar. While the war has dragged on for a seemingly endless seven decades, it has erupted violently in 2021 after a military coup in February. (If you haven’t read the previous posts in this week’s series onContinue reading “How Christians are being persecuted in Myanmar – Current Events November 2021, Part 4”
The world’s longest civil war – Current Events November 2021, Part 3
Can you imagine living in a country that has been enduring a civil war? Most people in the world cannot understand what that must be like. In my own country, the American Civil War in the 1860s was horrific. Reading the history and visiting places like the battlefields of Gettysburg, PA, I am astounded andContinue reading “The world’s longest civil war – Current Events November 2021, Part 3”
What happened when we decided to rent out our church – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 2
Earlier this year, Faith Church made some new neighbors. Just before the Covid pandemic began in March 2020, I received a phone call from a pastoral colleague at one of Faith Church’s sister churches. He was reaching out because another pastor (not from a sister church) had been visiting his church, looking to rent space.Continue reading “What happened when we decided to rent out our church – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 2”
When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1
Who are your neighbors? Think about people who live around you. Imagine their faces, say their names. How well do you know them? Who is your neighbor? There are many other kinds of neighbors. Some people are unexpected neighbors. Some people are neighbors that you didn’t realize are neighbors. Some are neighbors, and you knowContinue reading “When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1”
What we’ll be talking about during Current Events Week – November 2021: Preview
This coming week, we’ll be taking a break from our Ezekiel series because it is time for the next quarterly Current Events week. As always, for Current Events, I do a Google search scouring the headlines to see what everyone is talking about that we can bring biblical teaching to bear on. This week theContinue reading “What we’ll be talking about during Current Events Week – November 2021: Preview”
Why and how we humans need to get smaller – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 5
I can’t say that I always enjoy taking my dog outside in the cold or in the rain. Okay, I almost never enjoy it, especially when it is raining. But when the night sky is clear, and the stars are bright, as my dog is doing his business out in the yard, I will lookContinue reading “Why and how we humans need to get smaller – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 5”
The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” That phrase is an American anthem of sorts, pointing to an idea embedded in our history and culture, that we are individuals who have the power and ability to survive and thrive if we just work hard enough. But is this principle true? Even the task described in theContinue reading “The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4″
The difference between healthy and evil pride – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 3
Do an internet search on the word “pride,” and the results will be vast and varied. Think about the ways we use the word “pride.” A group of lions is called a “pride.” There is the phrase, “proud as a peacock.” A famous contemporary usage refers to sexual identity and rights. There is good prideContinue reading “The difference between healthy and evil pride – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 