We all have a favorite TV show. Some of us like comedy, others suspense, and others drama. One of my favorites is Shark Tank. On an episode a few seasons back, one entrepreneur came on seeking an investment in a company that was doing abysmal by all standards. They might as well have been selling … Continue reading Does What I Feel Determine What is Real?
Applicational Theology
Is There More Reason to Believe in God than Bigfoot?
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”–Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is blind, like the trust falls we once did in elementary school or at a work retreat? It is unreasonable and lacking of any evidence, like a belief in the Easter bunny or Santa Clause, … Continue reading Is There More Reason to Believe in God than Bigfoot?
Is It Okay to Doubt God?
“Have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22, ESV). When I was in my first semester of seminary and in Old Testament Survey, there were a lot of new things to me, despite being raised in church and formed in a Christian school. As we were looking into the Psalms, we had a discussion board … Continue reading Is It Okay to Doubt God?
My Faith Will Speak
The average person speaks upwards of 10,000+ words per day. Taken in one day, a person’s words write a few chapters of a book or a few lengthy blogs. In five days, a novel has been written. In a month, a series of books—take Harry Potter as an example—have been written. In the course of … Continue reading My Faith Will Speak
The Unexpected Joy in Learning to Read the Bible
Isn't there joy on the face of the child in the cover photo? Too often, we are afraid we can't find that joy in the pages of Scripture. We feel bogged down, confused, and weary after attempting to read the hills and valleys of words within. Yet, within the pages of Scripture, there lies an … Continue reading The Unexpected Joy in Learning to Read the Bible
What Is the Bible?
Bart Ehrman, a prolific agnostic author and professor poses a question to his students each semester he begins his course over the Bible at the secular university at which he teaches. Ehrman has summarized the routine as follows: "So, part of the deal of teaching in the Bible Belt is that lots of my students … Continue reading What Is the Bible?
Why Can I Trust My Bible?
Why can I trust my Bible? In 2013, Macklemore released Same Love, a song with a political plea for the neutrality of gender and the propagation of “love.” In the song, Macklemore does two things. First, he attacks the authority of Scripture, “America the brave Still fears what we don't know And God loves all … Continue reading Why Can I Trust My Bible?
Which Words Are God’s Words?
What books belong in the Bible? How do we know we have the right books in the Bible? Do we have an authoritative list of books, or a list of authoritative books? With so many today (even pastors) questioning the authority of the Bible, this question is more valuable than ever. The questions we will … Continue reading Which Words Are God’s Words?
How Do We Know Who God Is?
“If you were God, how would you tell a human who you are?” A difficult question made even more difficult by the very fact that we are not God. Depending on the culture and gifting of a person, they would reveal themselves differently. Some might use music. Others might use a movie. Yet, God has … Continue reading How Do We Know Who God Is?
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
Christmas creates all sorts of feelings. Just hearing the word “Christmas” can stir all sorts of emotions. What my wife would call “warm fuzzies” seem to be the center of Christmas for the majority of the world. It is about a feeling. It is about emotions. It is about all the warm fuzzies that the … Continue reading Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room