As a lead-in to the July 4th holiday season, First Baptist Church, Dallas, paid a company to display on a DFW billboard, “America is a Christian Nation.” The response from the “offended” was akin to Wyatt Earp’s famous line from the movie, Tombstone,” “Tell’em I’m comin’. And hell’s comin’ with me!” (You can read about … Continue reading The Intolerable Intolerance of the Dallas Mayor
Grace Notes
The God Who Hurts Us
“Yet is was the Lord’s will to crush [his Son] and cause him to suffer...” (Isaiah 53:10) I’ve studied the book of Job (the “o” in “Job” is long as in “stove”) numerous times. But, until recently, I haven’t had the courage to read it devotionally (daily readings) since 2013 when my 19 year old … Continue reading The God Who Hurts Us
How Jesus Found Me at Harvard
"Into [my atheistic state], God broke in." What a powerful story from Harvard professor, Mark Shepard. Short article. Enjoy... nw Harvard University is special for me because it is where I first came to know Jesus Christ. Perhaps this should not be surprising. Harvard is a place that reveres truth (Veritas), and Jesus says he … Continue reading How Jesus Found Me at Harvard
Every Christian is a Theologian
“Theology” simply means “the study of God.” That means all believers are theologians – or, at least, should be. To be clear - and fair - this does not mean that everyone is an academic or scholar i.e. someone who has made a career out of studying the Bible. But, nonetheless, we’re all biblically commanded … Continue reading Every Christian is a Theologian
A Psalm of Nick Watts
Reading through the Psalms you commonly see the following subheadings: a psalm of David, or a psalm of Asaph,... I’ll never forget what I once heard one of my professors say: “A psalm is simply a person’s response to God’s activity in their life.” That’s why, in the Psalms, we see the full gamut of … Continue reading A Psalm of Nick Watts
When Jesus Worked at McDonald’s
This past week, on a Tuesday morning, I swung through the drive-though at a local McDonald's for a warm, robust beverage on my way to work. After placing my order I promptly pulled up to the first window to pay for said beverage where I was warmly greeted by a woman at the window who … Continue reading When Jesus Worked at McDonald’s
Hell Under Fire
In their 2004 book, Hell Under Fire, general editors, Christopher Moran and Robert Peterson write, A business was opening a new store, and a friend of the owner sent flowers for the occasion. The flowers arrived at the new business site, and the owner read the card, inscribed “Rest in Peace.” The angry owner called … Continue reading Hell Under Fire
Pause – And Think About That…
The Hebrew word, "selah," found repeatedly in the Psalms is thought by scholars to be an ancient musical term used in the Hebrew psalter meaning, in essence, "pause and think about that." The following is worth pausing and thinking about. In the first century, the church had no spot-lights, smoke machines, electric instruments or sound … Continue reading Pause – And Think About That…
God or the Multiverse?
God or the Multiverse? Which one requires more faith? To all students having the multiverse presented to you as truth (or as the best option for the origination of life) I encourage you to watch this brief, 5 minute presentation by Brian Keating, Professor of Physics at the University of California, San Diego. He poignantly … Continue reading God or the Multiverse?
The Exorcists – A Word about Demonic Possession
I remember the first time I saw young Linda Blair’s head spin around in the 1973 monster-hit (pun intended), The Exorcist. It scared the you-know-what out of me. I’ve professed my faith in Christ since then. And that, according to the Bible, changes everything. Powerfully. The Daily Beast recently published a story on the Vatican's … Continue reading The Exorcists – A Word about Demonic Possession