A harsh gale blasted the rocky ledges of the beleaguered volcanic island. With thunderous breakers and salty gusts, a black Mediterranean maelstrom laid a stormy siege against lonely Patmos. The pervasive darkness ceded its dominion only to the ever-increasing flashes of erupting lightning. This ominous and violent array of illumination assaulted the senses with a mixture of light, chaos and fury. Somewhere … Read More
Grace In the Old Testament: A Meditation on Psalms 14-16
The synagogue in Antioch was in a state of chaos that day. A mob had formed. Lynching was on its mind. Raised fists, stomping feet and cries of “blasphemy” had kicked up a cloud of dust, fury and deadly intentions. In the midst of the mob stood one man — now quiet, almost peaceful, yet determined. The first rock hit … Read More
Meet My Friends, the Puritans
Middle school was a crisis time for me. Bespeckled with Coke-bottle frames and sporting braces and a bowl-haircut, I was the poster-child for the socially awkward. What I longed for as a shy, self-conscious seventh grader was the proverbial “friend who sticks closer than a brother”—an encourager and advocate, someone who could speak comfort and counsel to my preteen circumstances … Read More
Reading the “Antique” Testament for all its worth
A staple of public broadcasting is the popular series, Antiques Roadshow. The basic premise for this most-watched PBS program is that people bring discarded, forgotten “antiques” for an expert to appraise. Some of these antiques are deemed to be rubbish. But more often than not the appraiser will tell the somewhat shocked and overjoyed owners that what they perceived to … Read More