Bearing the Name of God

I have been studying 1 Kings, and it has been very interesting to read about the construction of the temple, especially after having studied the construction of the tabernacle in the book of Exodus. Sometimes the details feel a bit dry, but other times the details can bring out themes that can be seen throughout…

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The Judge Is at the Door

As James draws his epistle to a close, he offers encouragement to those who are being oppressed.  “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7).  In…

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Hope in Darkness

The darkness and barren landscape and often overcast skies of late autumn and winter can be depressing to me. I probably could not live in a country with just a few hours of daylight. I’ve written before about some things that help me through the “winter blues.” But I decided this week to do a…

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It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad World!

That’ s my impression from my stroll down the main drag of Gatlinburg, TN, recently. Few people smiling or laughing. Harsh words being spoken to others, especially to children and other family members. One woman hollering out foul language because she has pulled into a blocked street and folks would not “ part the Red…

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Suffering and Strong Drink

After twenty years of American military presence in Afghanistan, the Taliban took over the country in a week. Analysts point to corruption as a leading cause for the former government’s lightning-quick demise. The watching world now fully expects human rights abuses to increase under the new regime. There was injustice before and new injustices will…

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When Will Things Get Better?

Life is full of expectation and waiting. We’re always waiting for something! The weekend Seeing friends and family The release of a book or a movie or a video game The next season of The Mandalorian The end of COVID. We’re always waiting for something to come. We can’t wait for what’s next. I often…

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Fixing Our Hope in Days of Hopelessness

The great Servant passages of Isaiah begin first with a message to the nation, but the second Servant passage addresses a person. Isa 42:1 ¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Matthew quotes…

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The Butterfly Lovers, the Cultural Revolution, and the Hand of God

Recently I attended a concert of the Hangzhou Symphony Orchestra.  A violin concerto called “The Butterfly Lovers” was a part of the program. My youngest daughter, who knows about such things, told me that the piece was quite controversial, having been composed during the Cultural Revolution, which rejected all things Western. To my ears, the…

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In the Valley of Trouble: A Door of Hope

Please click here for an audio version of this message. What will you do when trouble comes? How will you confront health calamities and career calamities? The 2020 pandemic is putting pressure on all of us. How are we to have merry hearts, which are like a good medicine, in these dark days? These things…

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