You are reading John 10 and come across Jesus saying “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). You think of a number of books that might be helpful to explore the idea of Jesus being the “Good Shepherd.” Phillip Keller’s classic work, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, or perhaps Timothy S. Laniak’s While Shepherds … More The “Shepherd” Group
One of the fortunate effects of our new COVID world is the opportunity for writers and artists to ply their trade or hobby with undistracted time. For me, it has proved to be a time of reflection that has produced the manuscripts for three new books. This one I hope to send off to a … More New Book Coming
Someone (unnamed) asked me this question in an online forum: “How did you get close to God again? I’m not sinning, like doing drugs or drinking or swearing, but I get mad easily and don’t feel that connection with God. I’m young and I just want my relationship with God back.” So if your passion … More A Passionless Christian Asked a Question.
I have been reading in Psalms and Ezra and Romans and the Gospel of Mark this week and have found a reoccuring theme, the companionship of blessing and wrath. One is often discussed in relation to the other. Part of this is the working out of the “blessing and curse” theology of Deuteronomy 27-28. But … More The Companionship of Blessing and Wrath
___________________________________________________________ It is a habit of mine that when I begin the study of a new book, I work through some “overview projects” to help me to slow down my reading and force me to see more of the logical connections, themes and threads of the argument of a book. For years three particular projects … More Helping Bible Students Find Treasure
Reading with the Pastor Joshua 3, Revelation 9 and Psalm 95 Observations in Joshua God affirms Joshua’s leadership at the Jordan in the same way He affirmed Moses leadership at the the Red Sea (vss. 7-9). Whatever “natural means” God may have used to part the waters of the Jordan, there is still the supernatural … More Indifference to the Bible is Empty-Headed
I recently ordered the first volume of the ESV Scriptural Journal. To be completely accurate, the volume that covers the pastoral epistles (1-2 Timothy and Titus). It is a very simple capitalistic improvement to the standard study Bible giving we, the reader, more space to write our own meditations and discoveries by alternating a text page … More Why You Should Read the Bible Every Day
Reading with the Pastor Matthew 24, Psalm 24, and Proverbs 24 The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself. —Henry Miller Give attention, close attention, to the word of God and the works of His creation. They will each become … More Beauty in Small Things
If you have been reading with the rest of the church since May, you have now read Matthew, Mark, Luke, James, 1 and 2 Peter and 107 psalms. Congratulations. And I hope it has been a big step forward for many of you as you have learned to carve out the time to read the … More “Reading is Just the Beginning”
Reading with the Pastor Luke 5 and Psalm 79-80 In the Masoretic Text (MT), the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the middle letter in the Psalter is the middle letter in the Hebrew word translated as “forest” in Psalm 80:13. In the MT it is raised slightly above the line to show off its … More A Confidence that Grows with Memory
