Auschwitz and the Agnostic
It was in the spring of 2007, if I’m recalling correctly, that I first traveled to Slovakia. I was younger then, though not so young as to believe I had seen enough of the world. I had not. And it was there I met Miro. He was about my age, but the soundtrack of Miro’s […]
What Does the Bible Say About Grief?
Let’s start with a little bit of Bible trivia. Do you know what the shortest verse is in the Bible? It’s John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” I’m willing to bet you already knew that one. Now, do you know why Jesus wept? The answer: grief. Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died, and Jesus was grieving the loss […]
The Book of Revelation Explained Simply
Do you ever like to experience the thrill of a good scare? For some of us growing up, that was what the book of Revelation was for. Perhaps as a kid, there were times you would be glancing through a Bible, and then—after checking to see if anyone was watching—you’d quickly flip to the end […]
Where Is God in the Fire? Reflections on the California Wildfires
January 27, 2025 Long Beach, CA “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. […]
Our Summer Sun and Winter Fire
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are seasons that we walk through, both literally and figuratively. The most evident seasons are winter and summer. The summer season of life is easy and feels refreshing. The winter season can be a time that may include family drama, hard work, and other life challenges. Add in the snow, […]
Jesus and the Buddha: What Was Their Diagnosis of Humanity’s Problem?
According to Jesus and the Buddha, what is fundamentally wrong with humanity? As we will see, Siddhartha Gautama’s diagnosis of humanity undercuts the human problem by changing our perspective about what a human is. He does this by having the adherent realize that she isn’t an enduring self. Once an adherent is cured of her […]
3 Steps for Choosing Obedience When You Suffer
When I contemplate human suffering, two words come to my mind: lamb stew. One winter evening I joined a friend in her home for dinner. I looked forward to it as her cultured culinary skills always made our shared suppers delightful and delicious. We sat down to an elegant table setting. She served the main […]
Rejoice in Suffering for Your Faith
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12–13, NIV) Peter’s words are […]
