For we who are in anguish There shall be no gloom, For he who was long promised Dwelt within the womb. For we who walk in darkness There shall be a light, For he who is the sunrise Shines into the night. . . . Continue reading →
To Us a Son is Given
The Devil’s Mousetrap
“For our price he tendered his cross as a mousetrap; there he placed his blood as bait.” Augustine of Hippo Do you wonder if a mouse knows better, But can’t say “no” to a well-aged cheddar? Does he see the hammer? The . . . Continue reading →
Warp And Weft
A loom binds together both warp and weft. The Spirit hovers, the Word becomes flesh. A figure forms as fine strands intersect. The virgin’s womb frames the image made fresh. A tapestry hangs for all to inspect. The shepherds gaze at the . . . Continue reading →
Review: Poetry Of Redemption: An Illustrated Treasury Of Good Friday And Easter Poems By Leland Ryken
For a long time I have noticed that I have two sides to my interests and personality. I can be very rational and analytical in my approach to faith and life. I also have a love of the arts, particularly literature and . . . Continue reading →
How Did The Substitutionary Atonement Work?
On the surface the logic of the atonement is straightforward. We sin and are therefore under God’s wrath. When Jesus died on the cross, he suffered the punishment that sin deserves. If we put our faith in Christ, we have eternal life. . . . Continue reading →
Take Me to the Tomb
When all hope is smothered by dark despair, And shadows have swallowed the last of my light, Then take me to the tomb and leave me there; To sit in somber silence and to stare, To search for a sacred sign in . . . Continue reading →
Should Christians Baptize For The Dead?
In the middle of a long and detailed discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul drops a confusing bombshell: Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why . . . Continue reading →
Christian, You Have An Advocate
Have you ever thought about what Jesus is doing right now? He ascended to the right hand of God… and then what? What has Jesus been up to since then? The Bible actually tells us that Jesus is doing a lot. He . . . Continue reading →
Believer: God Is Not Punishing You For Your Sin
“Did I give my grandmother cancer?” One of my students asked this as tears began to well up in her eyes. My heart broke as I realized she thought God was punishing her for sin and lack of faith by making her . . . Continue reading →
Dirt
You stood far off, not aloof but above, And from the heavens looked down with pity At workers toiling in futility Made the fatal choice to descend, for love. And step by step you practiced kenosis,1 Removing the diadem from your head . . . Continue reading →
Who Was The Real Santa Claus?
Who was the real Santa Claus? We can’t say for sure. Separating fact from fiction is an impossible task in this case. Indeed, it’s likely that the stories we have about Nicholas of Myra contain much more fiction than fact. So, what . . . Continue reading →
Lessons In Christian Nationalism From The Scottish Covenanters
Christian Nationalism has become something of a Rorschach test. What do you imagine when you hear this phrase? Is it a rallying cry to a glorious future in which God’s kingdom is manifested on earth? Or does it portend the hellish horrors . . . Continue reading →