My Only Comfort

God's desire for humankind is for them to enter into the fellowship of the Holy Trinity and reflect his image in a creaturely, material way to His creation. The Temple pointed to God's redemption and the reality that was soon to be revealed at Pentecost.

A journey of history and pictures - Babel and Abraham; Saul and David - what is the kingdom of God One saw, and took; one waited in faith. The heart of the Christian message isn't Sinai. That never brought life; only death. The heart is the "deeper magic" that the world doesn't know. Love, humility, service to all, taking the place of the slave

Rahab was faithful to the ancient covenant of hospitality, which was considered sacred. In return, she asked the spies to be faithful to her. By doing so she entered into a new family, with new hope and new life. And on a side note, she didn't lie. She understood the question and answered accordingly.

Is God's wrath an attribute? Does it ever fade? Will he be angry forever? How does God's wrath fit along side of God's love?

Don't follow the idols of strength and power. Wait, for God's justice and mercy are always perfect.

Lingering at the cross, and soaring like an eagle. What it means to wait on the Lord...

Isaiah brings hope to exiles in a hostile country

Why do humans turn from a God who loves them and offers them everything in order to worship an idol, who promises much and delivers nothing?

Sometimes a text can become so familiar, you don't see that maybe you are seeing it wrong. The story of angels, shepherds, and mangers isn't about hospitality, or innkeepers. It is about Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God - and how he is calling the world to Himself.

The Christian life is not a life of shame and guilt, but redemption - Jesus seeks us because he considers us to be of great value. He redeems us that we might shine his light in our communities. This is why the preaching of the law can never redeem; it can only increase shame and guilt.

Last two weeks we looked at human kind as image-bearers of God and what that means. In this episode, I talk about the figures that the Bible uses of what reflecting God's image actually looks like. Moses says "Love the God and your neighbor." Micah said, "Do justly, love faithfulness to covenants, and walk humbly with God. Solomon said "Get wisdom" And Paul said, &quot...

We reflect the light of God through wisdom; given to us in Christ by the power of the Spirit; free for all who ask.

How does the light shine from God's glory to humankind? What is meant by the image of God? These are the topics we are struggling through today.

Why do we still struggle with the same sins? Does God hear our prayer for wisdom? We talk about the behaviorism of the modern church and the false definitions of sin that still plague us. We long together for the day when all tears will be wiped away.

What are you looking for? The mistake most pastors make is to assume that the goal is to fix a marriage, or make our children behave, or change someone's behavior. These are good things, but they must serve the goal - the goal is knowing God. Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness

My thoughts on Luke 14 - where kingdoms collide. The powerful elite sit for the feast while the riffraff watch. Jesus is invited. What will he do? Whose side is he on? Will he side with the powerful, righteous, godly church leaders? Or the poor beggars outside?

Our natural religion and the moral order of the universe is used by violent and abusive men to exert control. Do more, work harder. Lazy children deserve to be beaten and shame. But shame doesn't cause rest, does it?

We cannot rest because we are locked into the bondage of sin and misery, making bricks day in and day out, and hoping that will be enough. We need a redeemer, not a better way to make bricks. God calls Israel out of Egypt, and redeems them and gives them their first Sabbath.

Is this something? How our quest for something solid in the world of vanity leads to restlessness and emptiness. The first episode of a podcast outlining how Jesus gives us rest.

When we are desperately seeking to justify our existence and striving to fill on this earth that which can never be filled on this earth, we cannot simply sit and rest. We don't enjoy the meal, because we are too busy jockeying for position.

How much of the story from Luke 2 do you know? Jesus the savior is born, and the angels give the shepherds a sign, that they might believe that he is the Christ, the son of the living God.

Two questions answered - why did God command Joshua (and others) to completely destroy the Canaanites, and how does that apply today? Second question - why did God allow David's concubines to be raped by Absalom? Is it right for others to suffer for someone else's sin? These are difficult questions, but we need to look at them squarely. When we face them, as tough as they are, we will see...

Listener's questions answered. How can a good God be reconciled with the Old Testament, where God commands genocide? I attempt to answer, with stammering tongue and finite wisdom. Sodom and Gibeah of Benjamin are both sites of tremendous evil, but they point to a redeemer, a king who will rescue his people from their sins.

Just as Cyrus delivered Israel from Babylon, so the True Servant of God will redeem and gather his people from out of the world, along with the outcasts of the Gentiles into one people of God.

Just as God made the earth to be inhabited, so also he will re-create the heavens and the earth and a people to dwell in it. A new creation and a new exodus by the power of God