In “marked” contrast to the adopted practice of most modern historiographers who are fond of supplying graphic details of heinous events (compare, for example, Bill O’Reilly’s magnificent KILLING LINCOLN), Mark’s account of the crucifixion is striking in its silence regarding the physical torture of the cross. Although this strikes us moderns as odd (and, for…
Have you ever noticed that many of Jesus’ parables seem to have a “dark edge.” By that I mean, the characters in them often exhibit behavior that is . . . well, less than stellar. In fact, at times their words or actions are downright reprehensible, and for that reason, they strike us as shocking….
Luke’s account of Christ’s birth is pregnant with theology. It emphasizes our Lord’s saving mission, but it also emphasizes God’s concern for the marginalized. When God “shows up” (that is, when He acts in unmistakeable ways), His actions are often not what humans would expect. As an exercise, trace the occurrence of the word “amen”…
The unbelief of Zechariah in Luke 1:18 is somewhat stunning, especially in light of the incredible nature of the angel’s announcement. It is also downright hilarious. Zechariah had been trying to father a child with Elizabeth for perhaps as many as five or six decades. This surely gives new meaning to the popular adage “If…
In rendering the Greek text of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 as “Abstain from all APPEARANCE of evil” translators of the KJV may have unwittingly promulgated an unorthodox and unhealthy dynamic between Christians and “The World.” For if the hermeneutical axiom that “Scripture interprets Scripture” be granted its legitimate function, and if Paul actually meant “Abstain from…
In “marked” contrast to the adopted practice of most modern historiographers who are fond of supplying graphic details of heinous events (compare, for example, Bill O’Reilly’s magnificent KILLING LINCOLN), Mark’s account of the crucifixion is striking in its silence regarding the physical torture of the cross. Although this strikes us moderns as odd (and, for…
Since my early teens, I have been an avid runner. Staying in shape has always been important to me. The fact that my wife Maja shares this fitness ambition helped me stay fit for the first ten years of our marriage. Then our first child Kali was born. We were certain the demands of parenthood…
Today we pause to pay special tribute to those who sacrificed their lives so the rest of us might continue to live in freedom. And to these honored dead we add the thousands more whose service to their country cost them sight, or hearing, or limbs, or psychological health, or family relationships. Today I pray…
In the aftermath of the horrific earthquake that recently rocked Japan, one journalist posed the following question to a prominent minister: “Either God is All-powerful and doesn’t care about the suffering people of Japan OR He does care about the people of Japan, but he is not all-powerful. Which is it?” I have a sneaky…