Posts with the category “becoming-people-of-understanding”

Our journey through Psalm 73 has brought us to a turnaround point for Asaph. He describes it as a time when he “went into the sanctuary of God” (Ps. 73:17). New observations began to take root in his ...  Read More

We’ve moved slowly through the first half of Psalm 73, noting Asaph’s lament over the prosperity of the wicked. And we’ve sought to extract truth and wisdom to apply to today, in our own lives and in ...  Read More

Asaph served and wrote during the years of King David’s reign in Jerusalem (1000-962 B.C.), and in part of Solomon’s reign thereafter. By and large these were good years for the nation. Times of milit...  Read More

Asaph’s Psalm 73 lament understandably is magnified by what he observes among his own people and their leaders. He finds them, the chosen people of God, drifting away from God’s Law and often adopting...  Read More

And so it has come to this. Our friend Asaph, a godly man and leader, confesses something that is hard for us to believe. Does he truly mean that he views his life with some regret? That he may have m...  Read More

We’re seeing that Asaph’s lament in Psalm 73 arises from what he perceives as the “prosperity of the wicked” (vs. 3). Note his observations of the wicked. They seem prosperous, healthy, successful, at...  Read More

We’ve watched our friend Asaph set the foundation for his Psalm 73 lament. He has proclaimed steadfast trust in God’s goodness (vs. 1), and shared deep doubt and despair over something he can’t reconc...  Read More

This experience should be familiar to anyone who might be reading with us. In so many ways, small or large, the events of life can appear not to fit our concept of a powerful, wise, and loving God. If...  Read More

A Journey Through Psalm 73 (part one of several).Written by: Pete McClanathanTruly God is Good: A Journey Through Psalm 73 (part one of several)Our discussion of sin and idolatry (Gen. 3 and beyond) h...  Read More

Consider that the entire content of scripture from Genesis 4 through Revelation deals with this theme: man’s captivity by sin, overlaid with God’s plan of redemption....  Read More

There we have it. Even before the many physical curses that soon were to come (the ground, work, childbirth, even physical death), Adam and Eve experienced a terrible and wholly unexpected consequence...  Read More

When we last left Eve and Adam they had just completed the sorry progression of temptation and disobedience. The result was a disaster for them and for human history. The whole of scripture following...  Read More

I had intended to use this article to work on identifying idols in our own lives, using some of the examples presented earlier. But as I was preparing, it became clear that there is one more foundatio...  Read More

Before we begin, a few words to those who’ve come through the two previous articles. First, nice work. If you’ve treated these topics seriously and stepped into the scriptures and discussion with us,...  Read More

These words appear in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, right on the heels of his warnings against judging. Understanding and heeding this passage is the linchpin to softening and healing interpersonal or g...  Read More

You’ve probably noticed that we’re moving deeper into the complex subject of how the Bible addresses human relationships. If taken seriously, we’re finding that the Word of God is abundantly filled wi...  Read More

A Christian man who loves sports is challenged harshly by a non-sports-loving friend. The rebuke centers around accusations of the man’s misplaced priorities before God....  Read More

We’ve been uncovering how the Bible speaks clearly to matters of human conduct and relationship. Its words are directed particularly to those in the body of Christ....  Read More

We live in times that can feel difficult. And often they are. No argument there. Difficult times and difficult people can press us emotionally. Fear, pain, regret, anger...they all can lead us to plac...  Read More

We are given little information about the form of worship of God following Gen. 3:6-7 (the fall). We do know that it took place in spite of there being no tabernacle, temple, or synagogue, and withou...  Read More

If you’ve been studying along with us in this series, you’re seeing the development of a theme. One that involves basic issues found throughout the Bible. Idolatry, wrong worship, putting off the old ...  Read More

Preparing this article has felt like trying to clear vines and underbrush from among a forest of trees. Not that I’ve ever tried to clear a woods, but it seems similar. All around we find majestic oak...  Read More

Recent Sunday morning teachings, as part of the First 40 Days prayer journey, have reacquainted us with familiar words in Matthew 6. What we’ve come to call the “Lord’s Prayer” is best understood as a...  Read More

Encouragement always carries the challenge of faith and trust, seeing beyond our own circumstances and understanding. And biblical challenge always contains encouragement if we look below the surface ...  Read More

Can We Really Allow Difficult Times and Hardships To Become (Unrequested and Maybe Unwelcome) Opportunities?Written by: Pete McClanathan“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of vario...  Read More

As we make our way through the current sermon series in the rich book of Colossians, certain words and ideas jump out and demand further thought. Such is the case with Col. 1:13-14:...  Read More