John the Baptist was a wild and holy prophet whose whole mission in life was to prepare the way for the LORD Jesus. And when his big moment came to announce Christ onto the world stage, what did John say? “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) […]
Hard´-heart`ed (~härt`ĕd) a. 1. Unsympathetic; inexorable; cruel; pitiless. The wisdom of Solomon gave us this proverb: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23) Our lives are governed by our hearts. What we love determines who we are. Unsurprisingly philosophers might define a human being as […]
If you watch news footage of disasters in the third world you see people who know what to do. This is a sad time. The people are sad. They weep and wail and mourn. And this is entirely appropriate. But watch news footage of disasters in the west and what do you see? Not weeping […]
It has all the ingredients for a West End hit. Jealousy, family intrigue, struggle through adversity then vindication and reconciliation. It’s a story that speaks to all. Because it’s a story based on the original story – the true myth. Joseph’s story is Jesus’ story told in advance. Joseph was one of the twelve sons […]
These days the phrase “fire and brimstone” is more associated with a style of preaching than with the reality they preach. “Fire and brimstone” preaching is what our culture fears. Rarely does it occur to someone to fear fire and brimstone itself. “Fire and brimstone” continually describes the judgement of God in the bible (see […]
The mention of “Sodom and Gomorrah” conjures up images of unbridled lust and debauchery. They were the original sin cities. And their judgement is constantly held up in the bible as a cautionary tale for all. But both their sins and their judgement aren’t as straightforward as some might present it. Almost the first description […]
Not a rain-arc. Not a rain-wheel. Not a rain-dome. A rain-bow. Why rain bow? Here’s what God says after the flood-waters abate: “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and […]
A previously hostile nation offering terms of peace. A business competitor bringing a promising deal. A chastened husband presenting a bunch of flowers. Any of these cases might be called “bearing an olive branch.” There are different views about how the olive branch became associated with peace. But its importance in the flood story should […]
In the “film” 40 days and 40 nights Josh Hartnett has to endure this unbearable trial period without sex. It’s a time of sore testing and I’m sure hilarity ensures. I wouldn’t know, I couldn’t be forced to watch it even for research purposes. But we seem to have a cultural memory that “40 days and 40 […]
It’s the name of countless nurseries and toddler groups. We instantly think: cramped menagerie and a cartoon boat – usually absent Noah and the family. Also absent is any hint that this is a cataclysmic scene of judgement. The context is Genesis 6. Apparently the “sons of God” were uniting with the daughters of men […]
