Barzillai was one of the people who helped King David during the period when David’s son Absalom was trying to usurp the throne. (See 2 Samuel 17:27-29.) Later, when David had regained the throne and was rewarding people who’d been loyal during the rebellion, Barzillai shows up. He’s there to help David get back across … Continue reading »
Samuel, You’re Not So Hot
Samuel wasn’t all that hot, you know? I mean, okay, he was a prophet. He has two books of the Bible named for him. He was the last judge of Israel, and God used him to commission the first two kings of Israel. But with that kind of pedigree, you just assume Samuel must be … Continue reading »
Public: Gay Relations “Morally Acceptable”
There’s a lot to think about in a new Gallup survey about gay relations: Americans’ support for the moral acceptability of gay and lesbian relations crossed the symbolic 50% threshold in 2010. At the same time, the percentage calling these relations “morally wrong” dropped to 43%, the lowest in Gallup’s decade-long trend. Notice this is … Continue reading »
Kids in Church
I was recently at a conference where I was startled to notice this sign on the doors to the worship center:
National Day of Prayer – One Opinion
Earlier this month, Federal Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that a national day of prayer is an unconstitutional call to religious action. Since the ruling, atheist and religious groups have been arguing for and against both the ruling and the national day of prayer itself. Many people of faith, especially Christians, have seen the ruling as … Continue reading »
Dealing with the Devil
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”—John 10:10 As a rule, Presbyterians don’t talk much about the devil. But this month, we’re going to begin reading C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters in the pastor’s Bible study. The book imagines a correspondence between … Continue reading »
Anybody have a PC to spare?
We’ve had a number of problems with the secretary’s PC lately. The infamous Blue Screen of Death It’s doing this a lot. A whole lot. If you have a not-too-obsolete PC you could spare, we could certainly put it to work in the office.
Easter vs. Fear
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? —Psalm 56:3-4 According to a recent survey (http://bit.ly/czmm53), only 2% of Americans realize Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian faith. Even among Protestant Christians, … Continue reading »
Encountering the Culture
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. —Mark 6:6-7 In AD 100, the worldwide total number of Christians might have been about 25,000. For the next two centuries, Christianity was an an illegal religion, and endured several waves of violent persecution. … Continue reading »
What’s Your Problem?
There’s a fascinating conversation between Moses and God in Exodus 4. You know the story. Moses has just been called to lead the people of God up out of bondage in Egypt. God wants Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let his people go. But Moses doesn’t want to go. He’s got a new life … Continue reading »