Thunderstorms form under special conditions. High convectional clouds with swirling updrafts and downdrafts cause water and ice droplets to collide. The collisions dislodge electrons and generate super-charged areas within the cloud. The energy is discharged in a flash of lightening followed by a crash of thunder. Circumstances sometimes do something analogous inside us. Faced with […]
Now, before you misunderstand me, let me make it absolutely clear that angel chasing is a bad idea. Angels do not want our worship. They are spiritual beings who glorify God; they point us to Him. So let’s keep our focus on Him. But there are two incidents worth considering. In the Gospels, angels proclaim […]
One way God might convict us of a wrong attitude is to drop us onto the stage of a living parable. He did that to Jonah to show him how weedy his love was. Jonah had run from God’s assignment to warn Nineveh of impending judgment. He ran because he knew God’s character, which includes […]
How did the book of Jonah get into the Bible? It contains only five Hebrew words of grumpy prophecy.1 I think it’s there because God wants us to know the simple but strange story of Jonah himself. He’s called a “minor prophet” but he’s more of an anti-prophet—the opposite of a good prophet of God. […]
God’s question to Elijah at Horeb, the mountain of God, is a question for all of us as we approach God. “What are you doing here?” Elijah seemed to have no other objective than to run as far from trouble as he could and deliver a resignation speech to God. He was done. But there […]
I used to think that persistence was a mixed virtue. After all, when I kept asking my parents for things they eventually got irritated. My persistence came across as begging or nagging, trying to force them to give me what I wanted. “And hurry up, please.” I struggled with Jesus’ parable on persistence in prayer. […]
Occasionally someone asks, “What is your favorite Christian festival day?” I struggle to answer. Other followers of Jesus would probably say Easter or Christmas; a few might say Good Friday. But I doubt if more than a tiny percentage would think of Ascension Day or Pentecost. Each special day has a meaning of its own. […]
When another driver does something stupid or dangerous my expressions, though mild, come quickly. Injustice or abuse produces a stronger reaction in most of us. So, have you ever wondered why Jesus said so little at His trials? Faced with false accusers at the high priest’s house Jesus kept silent.1 His answers to Pilate were […]
If we allow them to, life’s awkward or threatening situations will spur our spiritual growth. They face us with our wrong thinking and give us an opportunity to change. Here’s an example where Peter1 reached his flash point while Jesus remained at peace. One of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his […]
[Salome] said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. (Matt. 14:8-10) Even the ruthless Herod had a conscience. […]