Eugene Peterson writes in Tell it Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers (pp51-52): “Prayer can be learned only in the vocabulary and grammar of personal relationship: Father! Friend! It can never be a matter of getting the right words in the right order. It can never be a matter of good behavior or proper disposition or skillful manipulation. It can never be a […]
For many Christmas is as much about family feuds as it is family feasts. There is no greater family feud than the one at the first Christmas. God slipped into town through the ghetto and Satan stirred in the palace. Herod the Great heard someone Greater had been born (Mt 2.2). And in Bethlehem no less which only added to the Messianic lore (Mt 2.5). There had been pretenders before. […]
We recently enjoyed the annual Festival of Carols at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis. During it we sang this beautiful poem by Eileen Berry entitled “Carol of Joy” (2007, Beckenhorst Press) set to music by Dan Forrest. It’s nearly impossible to add anything substantial to, much less improve upon, the church’s traditional coterie of Christmas hymns but this is a worthy addition: Green leaves all fallen, withered and dry; Brief sunset fading, dim winter […]
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn 3.16) I once read a cartoon Scripture memorization pamphlet to my youngest daughter. It was a story written to help her memorize John 3.16. The pamphlet was nicely done and broke the verse down into helpful, digestible parts. As we worked on the first part of […]
“This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps 118.24) Many a church kid memorized Psalm 118.24 in children’s choir. It was a catchy tune that still causes foot-tapping. God be praised for those children’s workers who helped seal Scripture in our minds and hearts (even if I scowled my way through it). As we get older we cannot help but wake […]
Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her’” (Gen 20.6). Though credited with righteousness for his faith, Abraham did not always live up to the hype. He was frankly a sneaky man with a trophy wife (Gen 12.11). He […]
On November 4, Tennesseans have the privilege and opportunity to vote on an important constitutional amendment. The famed Amendment 1 reads: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting […]
An injured point guard sees the game differently from the bench. Without a harassing defenseman, crowd noise or game pressure he is able to see more of the floor. He can see and learn from the bigger picture. He can finally see what his coach sees and hopefully better understand his decisions. What seems so clear from half-court isn’t so clear from the sidelines. When he’s ready to play again […]
Victory is a biblical word and an especially exciting word for those in the prosperity “gospel” community. In their defense, victory is a rich biblical theme. We indeed have victory through and because of Jesus. Scripture is quite clear about that. “…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15.57). “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this […]
“…as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 5.21). Christians use the stock language of “hating sin” and “killing sin.” Those wanting to sound especially holy and smart speak of “mortifying sin.” Sin is indeed an interloper in the Christian soul, a squatter in the Spirit-indwelled heart. Because of Christ sin has no rights, privileges or legal […]