December 15, 2017. This is a continuation of The Divine Love series. For a full-text PDF, click here! What about justice? I think we must go on, however, with this understanding and framework to address what all this means for us, if anything. Sure, it is good to develop theology and to think well about…
Tag: suffering
The Divine Love, Pt. 3: God’s Answer to Evil.
December 14, 2017. This is a continuation of The Divine Love series. For a full-text PDF, click here! To begin with Part 1, click here. So, why hasn’t God done anything about evil? Now I believe we are in a good position to address this question. The question often comes as an indictment against God rather…
The Divine Love, Pt. 2: The Problem of Evil.
December 13, 2017. This is a continuation of The Divine Love series. For a full-text PDF, click here! Why does evil/suffering exist? When I said that I believed that the fundamental truth of love could answer some of the most difficult questions that mankind has ever asked, I was not speaking in vain. Throughout history,…
I Peter 4-5: Suffering and transformation.
November 22, 2015. Daily Reading: I Peter 4-5. Background: I Peter 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 1. Being transformed: As Peter gave the example of Christ’s suffering for righteousness sake in the previous chapter, he builds off the symbolism of the rebirth of baptism to show how we as Christians are to be dead…
James 1-3: Practical Christianity.
November 1, 2015. Daily Reading: James 1-3. Background: The book of James was most likely authored by James the brother of Jesus who was a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church and well recognized among the apostles (see Acts 12:17, 15:13-22, I Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 1:19 and 2:9), though he apparently didn’t become a follower…
Job 29-31: Job’s final defense.
April 16, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 29-31. Background: Job 27-28. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 29 Longing for the days of old: This chapter begins Job’s three chapter final defense of his position and situation, as a final rebuttal to everything his friends had accused him. Beginning his defense, Job longs for the days of old, back…
Job 11: Kick ’em when he’s down.
February 12, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 11. Background: Job 9-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 1. When comfort turns into accusation: After Job has given two rebuttals to his friends ever pressing judgment on him, Zophar the Naamathite decides it is his turn to try to talk some sense into Job. However, probably due to his frustration…
Job 1-2: Serving God through the tough times.
January 8, 2014. Daily Reading: Job 1-2. Background: The book of Job is set in one of the earliest times in the bible, still in the Patriarchal age before the time of Moses, despite is position in the biblical cannon. Job could have been a contemporary with Abraham, though no one actually knows. Job lives…
Is your Christianity easy?
December 4, 2014. The alarm goes off at 6 AM Monday morning, and he drags himself out of bed to get ready for work. It would have probably been easier for him to get up had he not decided to watch half of the third season of House on Netflix last night after coming home…
Patience may be a virtue after all.
November 8, 2014. One of the things that I have actually been advised not to pray for is more patience. Why? Well, I think the mantra “be careful what you wish for” is fitting here. When we ask for more patience, we can be quite sure that God will grant our request (as it is…
Don’t give up.
October 1, 2014. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. No matter how bad things seem, no matter how lost you feel. Don’t give up. There will be times of…
Times of trial.
June 10, 2014. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) I have some trouble with this verse. Intellectually I…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 