Our Retort on tattoos was shared by a few. One share I learned of had prompted this (edited) response from a reader: “I’m just curious why one verse in Leviticus is worthy of attacking fellow Christians over, while a bunch of others are ignored because they’re inconvenient?” To which I say, Thank you. And more, … [Read more…]
I went to Shul tonight. I’m happy I did. Since I’m a Calvinist, I suppose it’s incumbent upon me to deliver three reasons for that happiness. OK. On second thought, let me give three reasons for the joy while taking a stab at explaining how so much misery made its way into the mix. It’s … [Read more…]
The men who have deeply influenced my thinking have been several, and I’d gladly list them if asked, telling particular ways each has contributed to my understanding of Scripture and life. Those who influenced my preaching, however, are fewer (which may partly account for its deficiencies). Few or many, the influence of Marcus Dods upon … [Read more…]
by Rev. Steve Schlissel In a moral universe, offenders grant power to the offended. The ineradicable, relentless presence of equity takes right from the wrongdoer and puts it into the account of the victim. It is for this, among many other reasons, that it is not only blasphemous, it is nonsense to speak of forgiving … [Read more…]
Some have asked for guidance in their thinking and reaction to the killing of Ben Lowdown. Okay, some quick ones. But first let me assure you that these comments are NOT personal and have no one in view. That said, I mourn over our unreaction to this unqualifiedly wonderful news and regard our confusion as … [Read more…]
Beloved People of God, Certain teachings hold the promise of opening vistas of understanding, enabling us to truly make awful sense even out of what we see today. So I thought it might be well to give a brief treatment of something which ought to be as familiar to thinking Christians as rice is to … [Read more…]
Nothing can replace Psalm 23 in King James English, so firmly anchored is it in our collective cultural consciousness. Nevertheless, there is a wonderful translation of the last line which I thought you might like: Ah, how goodness and kindness pursue me, every day of my life; my home, the house of Yahweh, as long … [Read more…]
We were saying that a student of mine, intending to be humble, said he would be satisfied if he preached only as well as Balaam’s donkey. I had reacted to that by remarking that, were he to attain unto the level of quality found in the donkey’s only recorded epistle, he’d rank in the 95 … [Read more…]
One of my students recently had an opportunity to fill a pulpit. When I sent him a brief encouragement just before his cherished opportunity to bring the Word to Gods people, he wrote back to me, “If I’m as good as Balaam’s donkey, I’ll be satisfied.” And well should he be! Balaam’s ass actually sets … [Read more…]