Tag Archives: Bible

Of Nails and Sparrows

Heman was an important man. He was the grandson of Samuel, the prophet, in the Old Testament days of conquest. He was a Levite, of the tribe of Levi, specially chosen to serve God in regard to the holy things of the tabernacle.  Talented. Pedigreed. Chosen. Capable.  During David’s reign, Heman was appointed as aContinue reading “Of Nails and Sparrows”

The Chicken or the Egg?

I collect eggs from my chicken coop everyday. It’s an opportunity to practice philosophy: Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Philosophy is limited, however. It only leads full circle. If there weren’t any eggs, there would cease to be chickens. And if there weren’t any chickens, there wouldn’t be any eggs.  I foundContinue reading “The Chicken or the Egg?”

Climbing the Ladder

They tithed their mint and rue and dill. They saw each little pinch of powdered herb as a step up the ladder.  The Pharisees were climbing their way to heaven, and no renegade street preacher was going to say otherwise.  They were offended when He insulted their good works, and they pressed him hard, provokingContinue reading “Climbing the Ladder”

When Buying Seeds…

Be sure to read the description! While the rest of the world is posting about daffodils, we here in the Dakotas are still discussing inches of snow, below zero, and blizzard warnings.  This is just the time of year that Jung Seed sends out its second catalog as a reminder that spring will indeed come,Continue reading “When Buying Seeds…”

Discipleship Costs

“Jesus turned and saw [two disciples] following him, and He said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to Him, ‘Rabbi,’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’” It was an invitation into His life, and one that would change the whole course ofContinue reading “Discipleship Costs”

Power Outage

My phone buzzed with a notification from our church prayer text group: Pray that our electricity comes back on! One of our church families had lost power. When the windchills are -35, even a temporary power outage is a big deal.  I just happened to be reading the book of numbers, where Moses prays, “AndContinue reading “Power Outage”

Making a Difference

Federal agents swooped in and took my neighbor from his workplace. It was the middle of the day. He wasn’t expecting it. His girlfriend and children weren’t sure what to do or how to contact him.  He sat in prison for eight months before his federal trial. It seemed unjust, unconstitutional, unamerican.  But I wasContinue reading “Making a Difference”

Not for the Faint of Heart

I teach a children’s Sunday School. It is not for the faint of heart, and not just because you might get hit with a spitball or handed a “cootie.” (“Could you squish this, teacher? I found it on my sister’s head.”) Last semester, we worshiped by singing a song called, “Sing Wherever I Go.” SomeContinue reading “Not for the Faint of Heart”

Loving Leviticus

Leviticus gets the short end of the stick. Pastors rarely exhort congregants to start their Bible reading in Leviticus. Adjectives for the book abound: boring, dense, antiquated, dull.  To most, it is a list of rules for an ancient people who weren’t able to keep them. But David found treasure in the book of Leviticus.Continue reading “Loving Leviticus”