Sometime during our lives we all will likely experience a moment so transcendently beautiful that time seems to freeze and the world stands still. The trigger for such a moment can take a thousand forms: a piece of music or a work of art; great literature read aloud; the contemplation of pure math. More often it is the scent of honeysuckle, a perfect sunset, or the face of a child. Marital intimacy can become such a sacred pathway, as can at times a simple and truthful prayer. Celtic Christianity saw each such experience as a sign of God's grace--a "thin space" or "thin place," where opaque … [Read more...]
THIN PLACES
Sometime during our lives we all will likely experience a moment so transcendently beautiful that time seems to freeze and the world stands still. The trigger for such a moment can take a thousand forms: a piece of music or a work of art; great literature read aloud; the contemplation of pure math. More often it is the scent of honeysuckle, a perfect sunset, or the face of a child. Marital intimacy can become such a sacred pathway, as can at times a simple and truthful prayer. Celtic Christianity saw each such experience as a sign of God's grace--a "thin space" or "thin place," where opaque … [Read more...]
GracEmail special
THE ASSIGNMENT The first rays of morning gradually illumined the volcanic mountains before me, and the cobblestone streets of Antigua glowed softly beneath my feet. It was August 2007, and I was in this picturesque Guatemalan village on professional retreat with my employer, the Lanier Law Firm of Houston, Texas. During this early morning walk, I was asking God for a new assignment -- something he would enable me to do to bless others and to bring him honor. the answer Within hours, I began to sense an answer. I was to encourage some of God's people by writing a new commentary on Hebrews. … [Read more...]
SEVEN BLESSINGS
Through the years, I have known many professional ministers who experienced sudden, involuntary occupational changes. On one occasion, instead of preaching and doing pastoral work, my friend found himself heralding the merits of a particular luxury motor-car company. Remembering a similar transition long ago in my own life and wishing to encourage my friend, I wrote him the following light-hearted note to which he responded favorably. Knowing that numerous other gracEmail subscribers are similarly situated, I decided to share my note more broadly. __________________ "What are some … [Read more...]
NURSERY THEOLOGY
For those privileged to be born in Christian homes, good theology begins in the nursery, where it is communicated--one suspects--most often in song. What better introduction to truth as a whole and in all its aspects than this: Jesus loves me. This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong. There we have it--“Truth” for all, Jews and Greeks. For the Jews it is faithful Relationship, love in all its orbs, reason to say “Amen,” For the Greeks it is sober Reality swaddled in propositions, freely knowable and told in the Bible. Then the … [Read more...]
INTUITION (CAN BE GOOD)
A gracEmail subscriber in Texas writes, "One afternoon I heard a television talk-show host say, 'I believe that intuition is the voice of God.' My mother has reminded me though, 'The devil speaks to you, too.' What do the scriptures say about intuition?" * * * There is an intuition which comes from God. The Creator has planted an inherent sense of fundamental morality in all his human creatures (Rom. 1:19). Men and women may also look at the created universe and know instinctively that God exists and that he is powerful (Ps. 19:1-3; Rom. 1:20). Unfortunately, many people close their eyes to … [Read more...]
INTUITION (CAN BE BAD)
A gracEmail subscriber in Texas writes, "One afternoon I heard a television talk-show host say, 'I believe that intuition is the voice of God.' My mother has reminded me though, 'The devil speaks to you, too.' What do the scriptures say about intuition?" * * * The English word "intuition" comes from a Latin verb meaning "to look at" or "to contemplate," and it names the faculty or gift of discerning truth directly without rational analysis and inference. The Bible does not use the word "intuition" although it does contain the idea. Like any avenue of knowledge, intuition itself is morally … [Read more...]
GOD’S WILL FOR INDIVIDUAL LIVES
Some teachers at a Christian college expressed surprise that many students expected to find God's will for their individual lives -- in selecting a mate, choosing a career, deciding where to live. "Where does this type of thinking come from?" one asked. * * * Perhaps it comes from the Bible, I respectfully submit. As believers, we can say with David, "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Ps. 23:3). God still promises his people, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Ps. 32:8). It is still … [Read more...]
HEARING GOD’S VOICE
A gracEmail subscriber writes: "What would one have to do to be able to hear God speak as the prophets did? I hear God through the Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit in my conscience, but what is keeping me from hearing God as Jeremiah did -- distinctly and in direct quotation?" * * * On our part, we can be sure to keep our spiritual ears clean from habitual or unconfessed sin, and our hearts receptive with a readiness to obey. Most importantly, however, God must wish to speak to someone before someone can truly hear him speak. "Our God is in the heavens, and he does whatever he pleases" … [Read more...]
FORTUNE-TELLING
After visiting a psychic to learn the future, the friend of a gracEmail subscriber wonders whether to adjust her life to fit the psychic's reading. The gracEmail subscriber asks what the Bible says about fortune-tellers, whether a Christian should consult with them and, if so, what use to make of their pronouncements. * * * Fortune-tellers have existed in most cultures throughout recorded history. Their presence evidences the universal human desire for supernatural knowledge of the future, in the hope that such foreknowledge will also bring the ability to control what lies ahead. Depending … [Read more...]