paravanes:meditations

There is so much pain in the world. For those of us who enjoy relative peace, safety, and security, it may be easy to ignore or forget how many of Earth’s inhabitants are constantly hungry, constantly seeking clean water, constantly escaping wars and armed conflicts, or enduring extreme poverty. On a daily basis, we may not think of those without access to the written word, health care, or a safe place to sleep. The Christian tradition teaches humanity’s ills are a result of humanity’s “fall” from innocence. Innocence was the lack of knowledge of evil. This is not the same as knowing about evil. “Knowing” evil is experiencing it as a part of the self. In an undated, ancient time in the beginning of human history, a decision was made by those first inhabitants of Earth. They decided to live apart from the protection of God’s guidelines. We, their descendants, inherited that tendency, just as we inherited our other characteristics. Despite the best efforts of those who ...

If you listen with care and empathy to those around you, you will always have a good reason to pray.

 --  from toencourageoneanother.wordpress.com From Proverbs 11:3: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." (English Standard Version) The answer to the question in the title depends upon how one defines "weak." Advice and guidance given to Christians in Scripture is based upon the assumption of living under God's rule, living under God's kingdom, and living under God's judgment. If you are not a Christian living under the the rule, kingdom, and judgment of God, you will have a difficult, if not impossible, time understanding why someone would not want, seek, and eventually take vengeance. Why aren't Christians allowed to take vengeance?  Here are the basic reasons: 1. Christians know and understand and accept and cooperate with God's rule over their lives. This means we know God allows injustice into our experiences because He can and will use even those experiences...

Image from northbrunswicknj.gov The Bible has been criticized for listing, portraying, describing, and including violence. Would it be a credible book about the human condition if it did not? Of course, the Bible has much to say about other topics: life, love, death, goodness, sin, holiness, faith, purpose, etc. When you are describing the human condition, you cannot escape a discussion of violence. Violence has marked much of how we define human history. As a college student and a history major, I learned how much of what was defined as history was actually the record successive rulers and kingdoms. Their comings and goings were marked by violence: war, military conquest, genocide, and forced migrations. You cannot understand or address human needs without acknowledging we really aren't naturally good at heart. Original sin marks itself in our history through violence. God acknowledges this violence by giving us a revelation---the Holy Bible-- that clearly show...

Readers, I am taking a summer break from blogging until September. Please explore the blog and enjoy previous posts. Any new comments you share will be answered in September. Your readership and support are appreciated!

(image from wikiwand.com) A hymn I grew up with--one  I seldom hear anymore--was titled "Higher Ground." In the chorus of the hymn, we sang these words: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven's tableland, A higher plane than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." What is a tableland? A tableland is a plateau, a mesa, or an elevated flat ground. Often sheep would graze on tableland. What is heaven's tableland?  Many commentators have said it is the afterlife, when we all live in the heavenly kingdom of God's goodness. Not so fast. Heaven's tableland is not for the future; it is for now. It is for us to live on now. We won't need faith in heaven. It is only in this world that we need faith. Note carefully what the hymn writer wrote: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith , on heaven's tableland." In this world, we need faith. We need heaven's tab...

Graphic: Holy Fire Ministries (holyfire.co.nz) I've noticed increasingly strident and even angry blog posts and opinion pieces recently regarding the question of what the true church can or should  do in days of apostasy. For some reason, many seem to believe we are in a time of extreme apostasy.  I am not certain this is true, but once again the topic has arisen. Here are some thoughts on the subject. First, it is important to remember the church has always been challenged by apostasy (false teaching by those who have turned away from the true gospel they once professed).  There is no time in church history when the church has not faced apostasy and apostates.  This is not a 21st or even 20th century phenomenon. As you read through the New Testament,you will find the apostles Paul and Peter warning the early church about the false teaching of apostates. The entire Book of Jude in the New Testament is a warning against apostates and includes teaching ...