In the USA on July 4th we celebrate Independence primarily by launching fireworks. What other American cultural classics are a part of July 4th? Getting together with family for a cookout where we eat burgers, hotdogs and apple pie. Then we play baseball or maybe a game of wiffle ball. You know what those activitiesContinue reading “The Great American Lawn – Current Events: A Theology of Lawn Care, Part 1”
Tag Archives: theology
Does God care about your lawn? – Current Events: A Theology of the American Lawn, Preview
This coming week is another Current Events week on the blog. This time, rather than talk about a media headline, I decided to write about one of our American summer pastimes…mowing the lawn. And no, it will not be a sermon about if the Bible says it is right or wrong to mow lawns onContinue reading “Does God care about your lawn? – Current Events: A Theology of the American Lawn, Preview”
God is______? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Preview
If you had to describe God in one word, which is impossible I know, what word would you use? Pause reading this, think about it, maybe write down the word, and then come back to the email. What word to you land on? Holy? Pure? Trinity? Jesus? Perfect? All-powerful (or its fancy synonym, “omnipotent”)? AnotherContinue reading “God is______? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Preview”
The uncomfortable necessity of unity – Ezekiel 37:15-28, Part 3
Have you ever had the unsettling experience of being in a conversation and having very little idea of what the other person is talking about? You think to yourself, “I am embarrassed that I don’t know about this. It seems like I should have known about this.” I’ve had that feeling in my local ministerium.Continue reading “The uncomfortable necessity of unity – Ezekiel 37:15-28, Part 3”
God’s promise of hope and strength for those who are suffering – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 5
In the previous post we learned that suffering is the way to glory. I have to admit that I don’t like the sound of that. I would rather glory come by way of ease, comfort and fun. This is precisely why Paul says what he says next in our ongoing study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. Continue reading “God’s promise of hope and strength for those who are suffering – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 5”
How to experience glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 4
This week in our study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Paul writes that Christians are people who are saved. In the previous post we examined how we are saved from separation from God. In today’s post we try to understand how we are also saved for something. As Jesus taught it, we are saved to beContinue reading “How to experience glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 4”
Does God choose people to be saved? – 2 Thessalonians 2:12-17, Part 2
Some Christians believe God chooses people. Some Christians believe people choose God. Which is it? As we learned in the previous post, God love us. Paul called the Christians in Thessalonica, “Brethren loved by the Lord.” Paul continues to prove that God loves them by talking about salvation. He says that God chose them asContinue reading “Does God choose people to be saved? – 2 Thessalonians 2:12-17, Part 2”
How to think Christianly about America (or any nation) – Ezekiel 29-32, Part 5
This week we have been studying the rise and fall of great powers, because we learned about the fall of Egypt as prophesied by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 29-32. In the previous post, we learned that in recent history, the rise and fall of great powers is controlled by economics. So we have to ask, whatContinue reading “How to think Christianly about America (or any nation) – Ezekiel 29-32, Part 5”
Do our choices matter? (or is the future determined?) – Ezekiel 20, Part 4
Editor’s Note: Thanks to guest blogger David Hundert for continuing the Ezekiel series this week. In Ezekiel 20, verses 39-44, we read that Israel has a choice. They can go and serve their idols, if they wish. But they need to remember this: God’s purpose in the election of Israel will stand. A time isContinue reading “Do our choices matter? (or is the future determined?) – Ezekiel 20, Part 4”
How God can be both loving and just at the same time – Ezekiel 18, Part 4
Editor’s Note: I’m thankful to guest blogger Brandon Hershey for this week’s study of Ezekiel 18! How can God be both loving and just at the same time? Doesn’t it seem that his love will cancel out his justice, or that his justice will cancel out his love? As we continue studying Ezekiel 18, weContinue reading “How God can be both loving and just at the same time – Ezekiel 18, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 