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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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Lent

Embrace Pessimism

Optimism is “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” 1 On the other hand, pessimism is “an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome.” We can see that optimism and…

by Bogumil JarmulakFebruary 21, 2024
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Biblical Theology

2 Trees of Eden & What They Mean: Knowledge of Good & Evil vs. Life

If we wish to understand the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, we must begin with seeing them as a part of the creational order. Trees, along with plants and seed-bearing things, come to life by the word of God as part of…

by Mark BriansFebruary 13, 2024
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Death

Training to Die

“I chant slips and irreversible disasters, wiltings, failures, scars, the little disappointments and the large, blue streaks down a world that wishes it was only suncolors.” Paul J. Pastor from Kintsugi Song I recently lost something very valuable. Something I’d had for years and used every day. But, it wasn’t…

by Mandi GerthFebruary 7, 2024
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Jonah

Jonah’s Backward Exodus

In his eponymous book, Jonah follows an exodus pattern. He travels through the waves and east of the city into the wilderness. On a first reading, it looks like another use of this common literary shape in the Old Testament: salvation through the waters of death and the wilderness of…

by Tim SuffieldJanuary 30, 2024
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Revelation

Where is the Tree of Knowledge in New Jerusalem?

“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” The unknowing master of ceremonies didn’t know how right he was. We see this play out in John’s apocalypse. The end is like the beginning,…

by David AppoldJanuary 23, 2024
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Luke

The Test of Adultery

Read in isolation, The Test of Adultery (Num 5:11-31) presents the reader with a seemingly bizarre ritual, conjuring up ideas bordering on the Salem Witch Trials. Beyond this, pressing questions linger—such as, “Why is the woman in particular singled out, while no test is provided for the husband of a…

by Ben LoveladyJanuary 17, 2024

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Philosophy

Culture of Interpretation

Roger Lundin’s Culture of Interpretation (1993)is a very thoughtful discussion of the American cultural context of postmodernism. He argues persuasively for a strong continuity between the Enlightenment and Romanticism (both look to the transcedent self, albeit in different ways, as the source of truth and values), and makes the case…

November 17, 2005

Eucharistic meditation, November 13

2 Kings 9:33-34: Jehu said, Throw her down. So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot. When he came in, he ate and drank. How callous, we think. How could Jehu move directly…

November 13, 2005

Tim-Tom the Tumblebee

Once there was a little bumblebee who was very clumsy. When he flew, he didn’t say “Buzz,” like most bees. He said “Zubb.” When he aimed for a flower, he often missed and found himself trying to suck nectar from a lamppost or a fireplug. And he was always tripping…

November 13, 2005

Exhortation, November 13

Churches have a life-cycle just as individuals do. Both individuals and churches begin life in helpless dependence, slowly learn to do things for ourselves, and eventually take responsibility not only for ourselves but for others. Trinity Reformed church was born in August 2003 as a church plant from Christ Church.…

November 13, 2005
Theology

Ratzinger’s record

Not long ago, Frank Schaeffer frothed out a piece of mind-boggling stupidity in the San Francisco Chronicle attacking Pope Benedict XVI as a fundamentalist. It says something about Ratzinger’s learning that he is the author of 86 books, 470 articles, and has been a member of the Academie des Sciences…

November 13, 2005
Theology

Ratzinger’s record

Not long ago, Frank Schaeffer frothed out a piece of mind-boggling stupidity in the San Francisco Chronicle attacking Pope Benedict XVI as a fundamentalist. It says something about Ratzinger’s learning that he is the author of 86 books, 470 articles, and has been a member of the Academie des Sciences…

November 13, 2005

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