Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10). That means He cares for His flock, leading them to pasture and water (Psalm 23; 1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 7:17). The Good Shepherd is a gentle, nurturing shepherd.Also a shattering shepherd. Jesus shepherds (poimaino) with an iron rod, suitable for smashing and . . . . Continue Reading »
At the Atlantic, Adam Grant describes the findings of his study, Give and Take, where he compiled “evidence that being a ‘giver’ who enjoys helping others can be inefficient in the short run but surprisingly productive in the long run.”He elaborated, “Givers tend . . . . Continue Reading »
The Spirit is the Spirit of creation, hovering over the waters.The Spirit is the Messianic Spirit, equipping the Servant of Yahweh with wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, filling His breath with the power to kill and make alive.But the Spirit who brings new creation out of the old is . . . . Continue Reading »
Psalm 26 is a chiastic text:A. I have walked with integrity and truth, vv 1-3 (Yahweh 3x)B. I don’t sit with the deceifful or wicked, vv 4-5C. I wash in innocence, process around the altar, love Yahweh’s house, vv 6-8 (Yahweh 2x)B’. Do not take me away with wicked, vv 9-10A’. . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus’ message to Sardis uses the word “name” (onoma) four times, first in the sense of “reputation” (Revelation 3:1), then as a stand-in for person (v. 2), and finally twice in Jesus’ promise to those who keep up with their laundry (v. 5).We have the odd . . . . Continue Reading »
Peter Winch argues that any comparison of social realities across cultures is self-contradictory (The Idea of a Social Science, 108).We say X is a social fact, that it is what it is only because of the way social actors use and evaluate it. The “natives” deny that X is anything like what . . . . Continue Reading »
Bard Eirik Hallesby Norheim summarizes what Practicing Baptismmeans.It is “about letting oneself to be made a receiver, a beggar over and over again (204).It is about renunciation, the call to give up our lives to gain them (205).Baptism is practiced well only if it is practiced as . . . . Continue Reading »
George Friedman doesn’t think so. Putin’s posturing over Ukraine continues his strategy of expanding Russian power and, just as importantly, of projecting the image of Russian power: “The Russians cannot simply allow [Ukrainian independence] to stand. Not only does it . . . . Continue Reading »
Each of the seven letters in Revelation 2-3 corresponds to a period of Israel’s history. Jesus’ identification, the assessment of the church, and the promised reward all link together in a complex Old Testament scheme.Believe me for now, because I’m not going to try to prove it. . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus judges everyone according to his works (Revelation 2:23), and the letters to the churches present a refined assessment of works.In Ephesus, they do their works but they (or at least the angel) has left his first love. Repentance means returning to the works that they did at the beginning . . . . Continue Reading »
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