Friends of mine have been struggling with a family member who is accusing my friends of not loving the family member. (I’m purposefully avoided gendered pronouns to preserve confidentiality.) What you need to know is that my friends’ family member committed adultery, thus damaging a relationship with another member of the family. That act ofContinue reading “Are You Gaslighting God? – Ezekiel 8, 9 and 10, Part 4”
Tag Archives: israel
Is God trying to get your attention? – Ezekiel 6, Part 3
If God were trying to get your attention, how do you think he would do so? Often when we go through a difficult time, we wonder if God is trying to get our attention. But think about what you know of God’s heart. Does it sound like him to zap you with hardship, when heContinue reading “Is God trying to get your attention? – Ezekiel 6, Part 3”
The Prophetic Stare? – Ezekiel 6, Part 1
I’ve been listening to a compelling podcast called The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Mars Hill is the name of a megachurch in Seattle, Washington. It was a church started by a small group of people in 1996, but eventually came to be synonymous with its lead pastor, Mark Driscoll. At its height, theContinue reading “The Prophetic Stare? – Ezekiel 6, Part 1”
Would you want to receive a vision from God? – Ezekiel 1, Part 2
In the previous post, we began studying the book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In chapter 1, verse 1, Ezekiel tells us that he was among exiles by the Kebar River. Psalm 137:1, a psalm written by exiles in Babylon says, “By the rivers in Babylon, we sat and wept, when we remembered Zion.” Continue reading “Would you want to receive a vision from God? – Ezekiel 1, Part 2”
When God’s presence is gone – Ezekiel 1, Part 1
Think about the last time you encountered the presence of God. When was it? How did it happen? In a worship service singing a song? In Bible study? In nature? Maybe at a youth retreat around a campfire? Now think about how long has it been since you encountered the presence of God? Maybe aContinue reading “When God’s presence is gone – Ezekiel 1, Part 1”
When God feels distant or fictional – Intro to Ezekiel, Part 4
Does God feel distant, or have you wondered if God is just a thing of the past? Maybe he wasn’t even real back then? While the stories of God’s work in the past sound great, and might even be encouraging and inspiring, what we really want is for God to show up in our livesContinue reading “When God feels distant or fictional – Intro to Ezekiel, Part 4”
Why prophets (and the rest of us) need to practice humility – Intro to Ezekiel, Part 2
Yesterday we met the prophet Ezekiel, whose ministry occurred during some of Israel’s years of exile in the land of Babylon. Who was Ezekiel? Ezekiel was the son of a priest, and before the exile, he likely grew up in Jerusalem, where it would have been expected that he, like his father, would become aContinue reading “Why prophets (and the rest of us) need to practice humility – Intro to Ezekiel, Part 2”
What’s wrong with the world? – Introducing Ezekiel, Part 1
What’s wrong with the world? Ever discuss that question? It’s a popular one, and rightly so because of what we see going on around us, especially in our day and age when we have instant access to news from anywhere in the globe. It can get overwhelming thinking about the problems in our world, especiallyContinue reading “What’s wrong with the world? – Introducing Ezekiel, Part 1”
How to discover the character of a leader (and why it matters) – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20
Does a leader’s character matter? Just about everyone would say, “Yes,” but what if their character is sketchy, and maybe their personality and tone really rubs you the wrong way, but you agree with their policies, or at least some of their policies? Is it okay, then, to overlook their character? These are difficult questionsContinue reading “How to discover the character of a leader (and why it matters) – Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20”
Why it is good that Jesus left – Our Identity: Temples of the Spirit, Part 1
Our Identity: Temples of the Spirit, Part 1 Which of the three persons of the Trinity do you identify most with? God the Father, Jesus (who is God the Son), or the Spirit of God? My guess is that for many (most?) the Spirit is in third place. Why? Because God the father is God. Continue reading “Why it is good that Jesus left – Our Identity: Temples of the Spirit, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 