In today's Daily Lectionary texts, there's a fascinating parallel between two biblical scenes that teach us about leadership, fear, and what it means to truly care for others. In 1 Samuel 12, we find the Israelites in a moment of panic. They've just asked
Writings
Let's talk about a passage that's caused a lot of anxiety for many Christians over the years: Hebrews 6:4-6. You know, the one that talks about it being "impossible to restore again to repentance" those who've fallen away? Yeah, that one.
Imaginative Worlds Opening Example: The Double Life of a DC Employee Imagine a scenario that seems almost too bizarre to be true. There was once a deputy DC Director of Buildings who managed to work two full-time jobs simultaneously. She would spend Mondays and Fridays at the DC Office, and
I have conservative friends who despise the Republican Presidential candidate^ but could never stomach voting for any Democratic Presidential nominee because it would contradict their conservative ideals. I have liberal friends who also—no surprise—despise the Republican Presidential candidate and also could not stomach voting for the Democratic Presidential
There is no one right way to study Scripture. The Bible can (and should!) be approached from various angles, each offering unique insights and benefits. Here are a few ways to engage with biblical texts, ranging from devotional reading to critical analysis. Devotional Reading Devotional reading is a personal and
Or, All Things In Moderation...Including Moderation I struggle with either-or thinking. Actually, I don't struggle with it — I'm great at it. I can too easily find myself making all-or-nothing decisions. * Either I'll run a half-marathon this year; or I won't exercise
In my "Cross Vision: How to Read the Hebrew Bible In Light of the Cross" class, we recently delved into how Jesus positions Himself in relation to the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Torah. The New Testament portrays Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God's character, presenting
Why didn't the Bible—and Paul specifically—make their calls for justice more obvious? Why doesn't Paul more obviously call for the eradication of slavery? Why do modern readers have to do exegetical dances to get Scripture to mean what we want it to mean? Let&