Uncategorized

A Letter to Friends   In his “sweetheart” epistle to the church at Philippi, Paul writes to sympathetic, noble, loyal friends who have repeatedly demonstrated a concern for his wellbeing. The apostle appreciates their “participation in the gospel from the first day” (1:5) and is thankful for their ongoing support. The Philippians have “always obeyed” Paul, not just when he was present with them, but also in his “absence” (2:12).  God had begun a good work in their lives and…

Despair or Faith Isn’t it remarkable just how easily you and I can become absorbed in and entranced by the things of this world, even while knowing in our hearts that our citizenship is in the next (Phil 3:20)? We know that we are “aliens and strangers” upon the earth (1 Pet 2:11) and that our minds really should be set on the “things above” (Col 3:2) but still the world around us with its daily grind, its incessant demands…

What’s it all about?   – Part 2     As my friend was laid to rest, the sound system belted out Sinatra’s I Did It My Way, and as I listened to the self-aggrandizing lyrics I couldn’t help but think “This is the saddest part of all.” Sad but not unexpected. John had good reason to warn against “the boastful pride of life” (1 Jn 2:16).  Our first parents believed an ego-massaging lie (you will be like God/gods [Gen 3:5])…

What’s It All About? A few years ago, the curtain went up on a play by Samuel Beckett which Old Testament scholar Walter Kaiser describes “as an eloquent statement on modern man.” There are no human actors in the play and the scenery is quite simple – just a pile of junk. Only two sounds are heard throughout the play: the wail of a newborn baby off stage and then, after a period of silence, the groan of a dying…

Did Jesus Fail Part 2 In Part 1 we commented briefly upon Albert Schweitzer’s claim that Jesus dying words (My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?) demonstrated that our Lord died in despair, believing Jehovah had failed Him. Schweitzer asserted that this is the only possible explanation for our Lord’s citation of Psalm 22:1 in those last agonizing minutes upon the cross. He was wrong. A leading scholar of Rabbinic Judaism, the late Anthony J Saldarini helps us…

Did Jesus Fail?   Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer was a multitalented humanitarian best remembered for his work as a medical missionary in Africa. Sadly, he is also remembered by some as a man who used his God-given talents to undermine faith in the Christ of scripture. In his book The Quest of the Historical Jesus (1906) Schweitzer argues that Jesus died in despair and disillusionment believing that God had failed him. He writes: Before His arrest (Jesus) was overwhelmed with…

Alone And Stuck Thom Vaught A lone cargo ship became stuck in the Suez Canal blocking shipping traffic for much of the world. Ever Given is one of the largest container ships in the world whose length is equal to the height of the Empire State Building. It was making its way through the canal when it was hit by a sandstorm with high winds. Buffeted off-course, the ship struck one bank of the canal. Subsequently, winds lodged this mighty…

The Two Souls “Two souls, alas, are housed within my breast, And each will wrestle for the mastery there.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust     It’s no secret that fallen man’s heart is a battlefield. The issues differ from combat zone to combat zone, but all of Adam’s damaged children know the pain of living with a civil war raging inside.  We yearn to be valiant, noble and gracious, but even in the midst of minor victories we know…

“Heart Tears”   It’s not difficult to understand how she felt, this woman of the city with the bad reputation who had dared to enter the home of a strict Pharisee like Simon. She had come to anoint Jesus with the precious perfume, (Lk. 7:37 -50) and the tears which spilt upon the feet of the Master were the fruit of sorrow and gratitude – sorrow for past sins and gratitude for the gift of forgiveness. Luther calls them “heart…