Archimedes, a Greek mathematician, engineer, and physicist, was trying to figure out how to measure the volume of an irregular solid object and thereby determine the purity of a gold object. When he finally arrived at the solution, he supposedly exclaimed, “Eureka!”—or, “I found it!” (in Greek, of course). What do you do when you [...]
In the modern coffee bar, it takes folding money and a knowledge of foreign languages and flavors to buy “a cup of coffee.” Do you prefer latte or cappuccino? Brazilian or Colombian? A shot of this or a shot of that? Many people who love coffee have steered clear of these modern caffeinated [...]
San Juan Capistrano, a small city in southern California, is famous for the swallows that arrive and depart every year with predictable consistency. Around March 19 they can be expected to arrive, and around October 23 (the day that Saint John of Capistrano died in 1456), they can be expected to depart. “Like swallows returning [...]
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Posted in Bible, Christian Life, Christianity, Creation, Devotional, God, Inspiration, Meaning, Old Testament, Religion, Renewal, Spiritual, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality
7Jun11
The Resentment of Opposition
- This is part of a series on dependence on God. – We live in a time when all forms of external authority are being challenged in favor of subjective, inner authority. The quest for autonomy rather than accountability has become rampant. Yet the Scriptures tell us that an autonomous mindset is a mark of [...]
26May11
The Great Story
Dear God, I know that the stories, prophecies and wisdom of the Hebrew Bible are critical for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. You have made it evident that we cannot understand Your great Story without the witness of inspired Scripture prior to the coming [...]
24Apr11
Easter Past, Present, and Future
THE LORD IS RISEN! EASTER PAST He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6) See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (Luke 24:39) God raised Jesus [...]
11Apr11
Committing vs. Bargaining
- This is part of a series on the theme of commitment. – How on earth do leaders establish and retain committed followers? How, in some cases, do we get ourselves committed enough to pay the high price of success? God knows how, and the prophet Habakkuk models an essential truth about God-focused commitment: Though [...]
10Mar11
Leadership by Serving
- This is part of a series on the theme of servant leadership. – The pages of human history are stained with the disastrous consequences experienced by people who have misused their privileges of power, wealth, exceptional intelligence, strength or honor. From Samson to Solomon, our fallen race has been unable to use these gifts [...]
25Feb11
The Supreme Model of Servanthood
- This is part of a series on the theme of servant leadership. – We are healed because Jesus was wounded. This beautiful passage in Isaiah 53 includes a reminder of the desperate human condition that required Jesus to undergo such suffering: We are like sheep, lost and in rebellion against God. Verse 6 both [...]
- This is part of a series on the theme of accountability. – The Bible tells us, in 2 Kings 5:20-27, about a man who thought he could avoid accountability. Gripped by greed, Elisha’s servant Gehazi lied to Naaman the Syrian and misrepresented his master. When Elisha confronted him, he lied once again, foolishly hoping [...]
