Coffee with Creamer

Barry walks us through Psalm 101, a psalm with parallelistic properties that points out a daunting fact: a sure way to be excluded from God’s house is to treat other people badly. This is likely why God found Job so blameless. Job practices what his friends did not: mercy.   Scriptures: Psalm 101 Matt 5, […]

Barry talks about the crowded intersection of risk, control, and faith. In the moments we encounter problems, does empiricism or rationalism provide a better traffic controller? He answers that question, all the while pointing us back to the one who made both the intersection and the drivers.

Barry begins the conversation about Psalm 99 by reminding us about the stories of a few great leaders in Israel. These figures write a script for us with rejection and intercession—perhaps not the most cheerful invitation, but without doubt the most Messianic.   Scriptures: Ps 99 Ex 17:4, 32:31-32 Num 16:3, 45-48 1 Sam 8:4-8, […]

Barry finishes his series about the development of the self in the context of community. This episode of the series focuses on application and invites us to three important aspects of our walk of faith: humility, repentance, and self-doubt.     Scriptures: Rom 2:15-16 Ps 19:12-13 1 Kings 17-19

Barry continues his series about the development of psychological and forensic guilt in the self—a process that inevitably occurs within a community. This, however, is a busy intersection indeed with individuals, communities, and the world at large all playing a part in the process. It is in the midst of this congestion we must try […]

Barry admits three things: he is not omniscient (first time for everything), he is an individualist, and he spends a lot of time pondering cultural ethics. From personal identity, to Scripture, to the Overton Window, a lot of things come into play when thinking through how we become who we are and what that says […]

Barry talks us through Psalm 96 and provides a fascinating contrast with a psalm in 1 Chronicles. God has all the Creator work experience necessary to also satisfy the job description of righteous Judge. And this is great news because it means vindication for us and hope for everyone.      Scriptures: Ps 96 Daniel […]

Barry talks about the importance of perspective. The first step is to admit we are flawed perceivers. However, once we do that it doesn’t mean that we are wrong, that nothing can be known, or that someone else is right.     Link/Article: Target scales back on its LGBTQ+ merchandise ahead of Pride Month 2024, Target […]

Barry talks about political orientation and the workplace. Since so much of our lives can be devoted to our work, it is worth taking a moment to become aware of our sense of belonging and our level of intentionality about both our work and our coworkers.     Article: Effects of person–occupation political orientation misfit […]

Barry talks about Psalm 94 and sees the inevitable couple of hope and no hope. Hope shows up on the side of God’s people as he opts to use hardship to perfect them, and no hope hangs over those who make themselves his enemy. God is powerful enough to use all the things he will […]

Barry takes a moment and a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning to talk about the things he appreciates most about America. Having the freedom to do what we want may be one of the best things about our country, but it also requires giving up some of what we want. Poem: How Do I Love […]

Barry talks with Dr. Allan Peetz about the varied experiences that make up the life of a trauma surgeon. While surgeons are often hailed as heroes by those of us who need them (and they are), the field automatically comes with a potential downside. Our guest states, “You have this great hour to help people, […]

Barry covers our 5th and final Psalm of Ascent, which takes us in a new direction. Aside from being beautifully elegant and inspiring, this psalm is challenging and a bit of a comeuppance. Often when we think of worshipping God, we visualize a sacred space with little distractions and a lot of awe. However, this […]

Barry covers another Psalm of Ascent, a reminder of how and why we worship. Psalm 132 turns the idea of coming to worship on its head as we are not approaching God, hoping to get his attention so he will care about the things we care about. Instead, we find that God has already promised […]

Have you ever wondered why we pray? We say that God knows everything before it happens, and we believe he is always good (to the level of perfection, in fact), so why do we show up asking for things to change at all? In Psalm 130, our third Psalm of Ascent, Barry talks about the […]

The next Psalm we sing to one another, Psalm 126, as we climb up to worship God together encourages us to use our past to find hope in our future. Looking at God’s work in our life can bolster the faith we need to endure our present. Sometimes it can be easier for others to […]

Barry begins our next summer series, for the month of July, back in the Psalms. This time we focus on the Psalms of Ascent. These particular songs were used as the people of God left the land of their various tribes and homes to come to a central place of worship, high up on the […]

Barry conducts our final interview with a Vice President at Criswell College. The life of Luis Juárez, our Vice President of Student Affairs and Communications, has definitely taken a circuitous route through countries, struggles, and joys, keeping with our pattern. God knows right where we are headed, even when we might never know or even […]

Barry conducts the third of his interviews with Vice Presidents at Criswell College. The life and career of Kevin Stilley, our VP of Finance, also took a circuitous route (there seems to be a pattern emerging here). His journey includes a love of reading and learning, “accidental” changes in career and ministry, and some very […]

Barry conducts the second of his interviews with Vice Presidents at Criswell College, this one with Dr. Curtis Woods, our VP of Academic Affairs. A circuitous route, including public, visible ministries and private, painful moments, takes Curtis from his way of doing things to God’s way. Scriptures: Eph 4:17-21; 1 Kings 19  

Barry begins a new series and talks with Lance Ouellette, Vice President of Advancement at Criswell College, to discuss lessons learned and paths taken. Barry and Lance discuss maturing faith, God’s faithfulness, career paths, personality traits and finding oneself in Christ.  

Barry wades into Psalm 93, one of the shortest psalms with 93 words. In this flood we’ve got transience and permanence, power and purpose, and faith and action. You would think the strength of the flood would swallow us, but instead that strength provides a refuge for us to pour our lives out for others, […]

Barry heads back from his mind-bending journey into the land of opposites. He covers a few ironies from opposite perspectives and reminds us that only a radical irruption in the environment can avert the inevitable collapse of our interest into selfishness at one level or another. Thank God, God is into radical irruptions.   Scriptures: […]

Heavy on the science and philosophy, Barry dives into a mind-bending journey to the land of opposites. Opposites can have more in common than we think. Even when we are at odds with someone, that commonness allows us to sit down and share a conversation with them, something that can make us more like Christ. […]

Psalm 92 reminds us that life is short but a Christian’s presence can be enduring. From our perspective, our lives are here today, gone tomorrow, like husks. However, God’s people are the kernel, filling the world with his presence. And we do our best work shouldering the world’s purpose on the day we rest.   […]