Some of the richest sections of the Book of Acts are found in Luke’s brief summary statements…

If Paul did not have Ecclesiastes in mind when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15, and I believe he did, his words nevertheless are in stark contrast to those of the Teacher (Qoheleth) of Ecclesiastes…

“Torah” is one of the richest words in all Scripture.  Yet, for many Christians, it has sadly been reduced to our understanding of Law.  Law, we may believe, conflicts with grace…

The late, great humorist, George Carlin, played a weatherman named Al Sleet, The Hippy, Dippy Weatherman.  His most famous forecast for the night was, “Dark. Continued dark overnight. With widely scattered light by morning.”

At twenty-five, this was an interesting Psalm.  At seventy-five, it has my full attention.  Our mortality was once an undeniable truth we could hold at arm’s length, but in time, our arms shorten, and it’s right in front of our faces…

I want to briefly speak of Paul’s encounter with Sergius Paulus, a Roman official, at Paphos, on the Island of Cyprus. Beyond that encounter, I’ll briefly talk about Paul’s other encounters with Roman officials and how Luke frames these encounters to look at the role of the Christian mission with government…

Guilt and grief stricken over their role in the Messiah’s unjust death, the crowd asked Peter what they needed to do.  His answer would have sounded, in part, quite familiar.  John the Baptist was well-remembered, and revered…

I will make some brief points about Pentecost below.  Up front, I want to make an overarching point.  There is no Christian faith without the community of the church.  Vast numbers of people today are fleeing “organized religion.”

My dear friend and mentor, Dr. Ron Tyler, would often say, “the apostles didn’t waste papyri.”  Luke was not an apostle, but he was equally not wasteful.  Yet, when we come to the last event Luke mentions before Pentecost, the replacement of Judas, a considerable length of papyri is used.  Two questions come to mind.  Why tell the story at all?  Why give it so much space?

After a wonderful week in beautiful Oregon, visiting with Roxanne’s family, I’m back at the keyboard and continuing our look at events between Passover/Easter and Pentecost. One of the most important, but least discussed, events is the Ascension…

In my blogs’ journey from Passover to Pentecost, we come to the commissioning passages.  Each of the Gospels, plus Acts, has its own commission of the Disciples, now to be Apostles.  Here’s a quick view of each…

This blog will be a brief reflection from the sermon I delivered this past Sunday.  In John 21, we find the risen Jesus reinstating Peter through a series of three questions about love.  What lies behind those questions?…

I would not like to be remembered throughout history from my most unflattering moment, and I’m pretty sure you would not, as well.  Yet, that’s what happened to Thomas, called the twin, who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.  We know him as “Doubting Thomas.”  His failure to believe his brother disciples on Easter night when they told him that Jesus had risen, is certainly not Thomas’ best moment!  But forever “Doubting Thomas” is both harsh and unfair.  Have you ever referred to Simon Peter as “Denying Peter?”  Is Paul known to you as “Persecuting Saul?”  You might think that the only thing we know about Thomas is his doubting, but that’s not the case…