Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • The Alien

    Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7  NASB Man– He was never born.  He had no mother, no father.  He didn’t come from a family.  He had no cultural DNA.  He had no country, no ethnicity, no expectations.  He knew no…

  • The Seducing God

    He said, “O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”  Genesis 15:8  NASB How may I know– God comes to you.  You didn’t ask Him to come.  He just shows up.  He asks you to do something; something pretty startling.  “Leave this place, the place of your family and friends, of safety, culture and expectations. …

  • The Hazard of the Future

    “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” Jonah 3:9 NASB Who knows– This tiny phrase, uttered by the king of Nineveh, contains the full depth of the world’s desperation.  mî yôdea—who knows?  Zornberg summarizes the implications for humanity: “In a world where God hides His face,…

  • Context Capitulation

    The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Psalm 93:1  NASB Not be moved– If you have been a reader of this daily investigation project for awhile, then you know that I don’t shy away from controversy.  You might even conclude that I…

  • Finding the Lost Sheep

    I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.  Psalm 119:176  NASB Do not forget– What does it mean to be lost? Our common assumptions probably arise from the evangelical interpretation of the state of the lost, that is, the condition of those who do not know God, have no…

  • Personal Context

    “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  John 8:32 NASB Know the truth – It seems that every once in awhile we need to review our investigative methods.  We need to take a step back and ask ourselves if the way we go about examining the Scriptures leads us to a place…

  • An Octopus’ Garden

    Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. Psalm 42:7  NASB Rolled over me – “All of our addictions and busyness keep us away from the rich life below the surface.”[1] Do you think Gretchen Schmelzer’s comment is true?  Is life really richer under the surface? …

  • Loopers

    He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?”  Genesis 37:30  NASB Is not there – The translation reads the way we expectit to read, but that isn’t what the verse actually says.  In Hebrew it reads, einenu, that is “he is not.”  Of course,…