I was seventeen when I entered the workforce in what was likely the most unglamorous job possible—gas station attendant. The reasons why I ended up at the local BP are many and not...
Although the book of Jeremiah includes a fifty-second chapter, the prophet’s messages come to an end in chapter fifty one. Most of this chapter contains an ongoing prophecy of the fall of Babylon....
Though rest has an important physical dimension, it’s about more than a good night’s sleep, more than mere physical recuperation. Rest has vital psychological and spiritual dimensions to it as well...
I have a friend named Sarah, who is a very wise person. She once told me something that I’ve never forgotten. She said that in this life there are about twelve people who...
Jeremiah 50 is, for the most part, God’s word of judgment upon Babylon. Though he used this nation for his purposes, the time was approaching when Babylon itself would fall to foreign powers. In...
Right around this time nine years ago, my wife shared the news that she was pregnant with our first child. And though there was joy (much, much joy), there was also something else.
Honestly, I find Jeremiah 49 to be a rather dreary chapter of Scripture. It repeatedly announces God’s judgment upon several Gentile nations: the Ammonites (49:1-6), Edom (49:7-22), Damascus (49:23...
Jeremiah 48 contains God's judgment on the land of Moab, a region to the east of the Dead Sea. In the midst of this denouncement, the Lord says, “Because you have trusted in...
How does a Christian make choices about work, education, and career? "Six Days thou shalt labor . . . " (Deut. 5). Think of it: in the Fourth Commandment, work consumes six of the seven days of...
For years, I worked in advertising (my day job) and wrote books about Christian faith. But I didn't despise one kind of work and love the other. Being of a theological turn of...
We recently did 360 degree evaluations in my office. In the feedback I received, phrases like "able to take projects to the next level," "gets a lot out of her team," and "accomplishes...
I want us to read the Nicene Creed:The Nicene Creed(A. D. 325; revised at Constantinople in A. D. 381)I believe in one God, the Father Almighty;Maker of heaven and earth,And of all things...
Every evening it’s the same. I feel the pull--feet need to walk. Sometimes my boys go with me, sometimes a friend. But sometimes…I go alone.
In Jeremiah 47, the Lord promised to destroy what is left of the Philistines of Gaza.
We moved to Crystal River, Florida, when I turned twelve. We were poor and running but Mom kept her head on straight and gave us room to thrive as best as she could.
Most of Jeremiah 46 is directed, not at the Jews, but at the Egyptians. In this chapter, God promises to punish Egypt at the hand of Babylon, reminding us that God is the...
While I was the pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, I had other jobs on the side. I designed websites, did internet consulting, and was a freelance writer. I left pastoring because I no...
A couple of years ago the kids and I were looking through the purses and bags at Goodwill, and my son announced that he, too, wanted a purse.
Jeremiah 45 contains a word of the Lord for Baruch, an assistant to Jeremiah. In chapter 36, for example, Baruch wrote down Jeremiah’s prophecies on a scroll and then read what he had written to...
Learning to work well is great, but working well is not sufficient to create a balanced life; we must also learn how to stop working. That's called rest. The Hebrews called it taking...
