I heard that Jesus would be here today. His name was spreading like locusts through the seaport villages of Galilee. It was accompanied by words like healer, teacher, prophet, some even said Messiah. For the first time in years I felt hope stirring inside me. For twelve years I have… Read More

Have you ever read a book at just the right time? Every now and again, I come across a piece of fiction that speaks directly to me. The themes and characters give me insight and wisdom. The writing challenges my presumptions, prompting me to take action. It answers my questions… Read More

The sun has just come up and already I’m feeling anxious, flustered, even exhausted. Not only do I have noise all around me, but I also deal with noise within me. The hustle and bustle of commuting only makes this worse. If I’m not careful, I will allow things to… Read More

The year of my seventh birthday, I wanted a Bible for Christmas. The previous year I had requested a bike, to no avail. But this time I got just what I asked for. There it was: a small blue Bible with the classic line drawings that captured my imagination. I… Read More

Reading and interpreting the Bible through our twenty-first-century sensibilities has its challenges.  Serious students of God’s Word will recognize that assessing and applying Scripture faithfully requires at least a cursory grasp of the culture of the original writers. It helps to keep in mind such simple things as that the… Read More

What does the Bible say about families? We never did well with “family devotions,” and I think Dad felt guilty about that. Church leaders kept telling us that it was crucial for a Christian home to have such a regular household gathering. We agreed with the principle, but we were never… Read More

I rang in 2016 with rest, not resolution. Instead of agreeing to new work deadlines, I replenished my creative energies by experimenting in the kitchen and finishing a couple of novels. I even read a poem or two every day as the new year, like a fresh flag, unfurled.  Soon,… Read More

Ever have one of those moments where you read a passage and cannot believe it’s actually in Scripture? Keep reading and you’re sure to find one—whether it’s Jesus teaching about hating our brother or sister, Elisha and the bears, or God commanding the slaughter of a nation, there are some… Read More

A number of times in my life, I have enthusiastically set out to read the whole Bible. Not just a couple Psalms with breakfast, not just a few motivational verses or Paul’s shorter letters. The whole Bible—start to finish, including everything in the middle. I wanted to be well-versed in… Read More

When I was growing up I loved going to the bookstore with my mom. We would hop in her car and drive a couple miles to the old movie theater that was converted into a bookstore down the street. The marquee sign was still intact on the front of the… Read More