Beginnings and endings of books can help us grasp and remember what the books mean. Recently I finished reading through Exodus and left some thoughts on what that book means in light of its ending. I have also just finished reading through the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew begins with a genealogy that grounds the meaningContinue reading “Reading Matthew: Make disciples”
Monthly Archives: January 2022
Reading Exodus: Holiness means obedience
When you’re reading a text, some parts carry more weight than others. Even if every word matters, some words shape how you understand other words. If we’re reading well, and trusting the text, we could say that every word affects how you understand every other word. But in practice some words—some parts of the text—affectContinue reading “Reading Exodus: Holiness means obedience”
What to do with suffering
How I make sense of the pain I saw in the hospital last week.
The omicron spike matters
A personal anecdote to persuade you to get vaccinated and follow suggested safety protocols.
Grief and gratitude
My mother died Thursday evening. For me she is an icon of the fruit of the Spirit.
Trump-Russia is not a hoax
If you are not yet reading Heather Cox Richardson’s daily Letters from an American—why not? I am an ordinary US citizen with the education of a theologian, biblical scholar, and pastor, and I work as a religious book publisher. My interests in current American politics are theological, ecclesial, pastoral. Heather Cox Richardson is a historyContinue reading “Trump-Russia is not a hoax”
How COVID-19 has sorted us out
Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The trials of the American Revolution would distinguish the “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” for the true patriot. Well, any crisis tries the souls of those who live through it. The crisis puts a spotlight on actors who must respond to it, andContinue reading “How COVID-19 has sorted us out”