Promises to Keep

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John  3:16  NASB Eternal life – “Man’s task is to make the world worthy of redemption.”[1]  But wait!  Why should I worry about making the world worthy of redemption when I’m waiting to…

God of the Past – Part 2

Article “Pannenberg on the Past” previously published Part 2 (continued from July 28) The first thing to see is that Pannenberg asks us to abandon completely the defective Cartesian model of existence—the clock model.  God is not the clock maker, putting the thing called creation together; winding up the springs, and letting it run.  Every…

Beginning Again (14 years later)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1  NASB In the Beginning – This was written on January 1st, 2009.  Recently a reader questioned something about it, and when I looked at what I wrote 14 years ago, I had to agree.  It needed some changes.  So, for those of you…

Time Enough

Well, two things for you to contemplate. First, this photo from Cittadella.  The time of Fall colors.  Time makes it all happen. And second, this link CLICK HERE to perhaps the most important thing I’ve ever heard from Heschel.

A Tender and Delicate Sadness

“Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil.”  Job 14:1  NASB Man – I still have places to go. Katmandu, Nepal Paro Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan Skógafoss, Iceland Anse Lazio Beach, Seychelles Ashikaga Flower Park, Japan Cao Bang Ban Gioc Waterfall, Vietnam Caño Cristales, Columbia Raja Ampat, Indonesia Dongchuan, China Marble Caves, Chico, Chile…

The Cycle

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  Ecclesiastes 3:1  NIV Season – Actually, the Hebrew doesn’t use the word for “season.”  It uses ʿēt, meaning “time”—a time for every activity.  Where the NIV translates “There is a time,” the Hebrew text uses zĕmān, an “appointed time.”  But we…

Eternal Return

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  Ecclesiastes 3:1  NIV Time – Mircea Eliade helped us recognize the “myth of eternal return” in the ancient world.  Tomorrow is the Western celebration of that pagan ritual, an annual homage to the ancient idea of the circle of life (as…

Time Enough

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:15 NASB Time is fulfilled – peplerotai kairos.  “Filled up time.”  Mark loves this theme.  Everything is aligned for something crucial to happen.  Yeshua’s baptism occurs at precisely the right moment.  He is driven into the wilderness…

Timekeeper

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—  Ecclesiastes 3:1  NASB Time – Recognize this? This is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, perhaps better known as “The Duomo” in Florence, Italy.  As you travel all over Europe, you will find many…

Now or Never – Rewind

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—  Ecclesiastes 3:1  NASB Time – How difficult it is for us to not read this verse (and the following elaboration) as if it is about dates on the calendar!  The addition of just a few extra words pushes…