Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture
A few days ago, I read 1 Thessalonians 3:4 where Paul writes, “For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.” Why would Paul anticipate suffering? I believe the answer lies in his understanding that … Read more
I was reading Augustine’s Confessions this morning where he mentions a treatise by Cicero called Hortensius as the means by which God began to change Augustine’s heart. Thinking that it would be interesting to read this work, I searched for a copy only to find out that Hortensius is a lost work. My initial reaction … Read more
This story illustrates that miscommunication carries a cost. Four Euros will be little missed in the grand scheme of things. But what about the cost associated with miscommunication, through words or actions, of the Gospel of Jesus?
Gibbon writes that the only difference between the field of training and the field of battle was the effusion of blood on the latter. The church could learn from the Romans.
Ezra 7:10 (ESV) “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” I like when things can be simplified. Why make things more complicated than they need to be? As a result, when I read this verse, I … Read more
Yesterday I read Psalm 1:1. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” (ESV) Growing up, I was taught that this verse is speaking about choosing friends and situations to avoid: those who are wicked, those … Read more
Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other communication tools enhance the speed of disseminating thoughts and information. The question I ask myself this morning is how do I determine what is worth communicating? Is there a test which determines when the delete key should be used? I believe that Paul gives us such a test in 1 … Read more
In recent years, the business world has coined the phrase “elevator speech.” Sellers are encouraged to be able to explain their product offering to someone in the elevator in the 20 seconds or so it takes to get to their floor. Most people who have been in the church for a while have been taught … Read more