Over the past year a friend of mine has been incarcerated. He has many more years to go in his sentence. During my weekly visits, we’ve talked a lot about the question, “What is justice?” How do participants in the criminal justice system know if the punishment fits the crime? In today’s post, as weContinue reading “Was David’s use of the death penalty just? – 1st Samuel 31—2nd Samuel 2:7, Part 2”
Tag Archives: bible
The deep pain of losing a loved one – 1 Samuel 31—2 Samuel 2:7, Part 1
I’m going to list some names below, and as I read them, notice the emotion that you feel about them. Read the names, imagine their faces in your mind. What do you feel? George Washington Abraham Lincoln John Wilkes Booth Martin Luther King Jr Richard Nixon Margaret Thatcher Donald Trump Kamala Harris Did you feelContinue reading “The deep pain of losing a loved one – 1 Samuel 31—2 Samuel 2:7, Part 1”
What happens when there is no Designated Survivor? – 1 Samuel 31 – 2 Samuel 2:7, Preview
What would happen if a bomb destroyed the US Capitol during the State of the Union speech when nearly every government official is at the Capitol, and they all die? The President, VP, Speaker of the House, the senators and representatives. The Supreme Court justices. The Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president’s Cabinet, all those secretariesContinue reading “What happens when there is no Designated Survivor? – 1 Samuel 31 – 2 Samuel 2:7, Preview”
Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5
As a pastor for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to interacted with people in spiritual panics, some funny, some sad, some tragic. People come to me as their pastor, or I’ve found out about their situation, and they just don’t know what to do. They feel that God’s not answering them. They’re praying. They’reContinue reading “Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5”
How David was shamed by the Philistines, and it turned out to be a good thing – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 4
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. The armies of Philistia and Israel are gathering, facing off. War is about to erupt. As we reviewed in the previous post, though David and hisContinue reading “How David was shamed by the Philistines, and it turned out to be a good thing – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 4”
The end of 1st Samuel is like a military thriller – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 3
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. I love sci-fi like Star Trek and Star Wars. Think with me about the Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi. At the end of thatContinue reading “The end of 1st Samuel is like a military thriller – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 3”
Three reasons Christians should study the Old Testament – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 2
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. Is it worth it to read the Old Testament? As we learned in the previous post, the Old Testament is sometimes so strange to us thatContinue reading “Three reasons Christians should study the Old Testament – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 2”
Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk retired from a long career in pastoral ministry, denominational leadership and theological education. He now works in global fair trade. Weird is one of those words of which it could be said, “We know it when we see it.” But describing or defining what makes somethingContinue reading “Let’s admit it, sometimes the Bible is weird – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 1”
The weird conclusion to King Saul’s reign – 1st Samuel 28-30, Preview
Maybe you’ve seen the famous slogan in the photo above. Portland, Oregon, really wants to stay weird. The city of Portland has embraced its self-identity of weirdness, while others have suggested that weirdness is not good. Have you ever read the Bible and thought, “This passage is…weird.”? If you’ve thought something like that, you’re notContinue reading “The weird conclusion to King Saul’s reign – 1st Samuel 28-30, Preview”
How to explore space as an act of worship and peace – A Theology of Space Exploration, Part 5
Humans have long explored the natural world can as an act of worship that seeks to glorify God, specifically because the act of exploration seeks to know the heart and mind of the One who created it. If we are okay with exploring land, sea and air, should we not also be okay with exploringContinue reading “How to explore space as an act of worship and peace – A Theology of Space Exploration, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 