Surrogate

Genesis 16 tells the story of Abram and Hagar, Sarai’s slave. In chapter 15, we saw God’s promise to Abram: “one who comes from your own body will be your heir” (Gen. 15:4). We don’t know how much time elapsed between the giving of the promise and the events of chapter 16. It simply opens…

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The Comings and Goings of Wind

Fire, wind, and an earthquake happened because of God’s presence but God was not in them (1 Kings 19:11-12). Manifestations or experiential hallmarks of God’s presence are not God. Signs follow those who believe but signs are not God (Mark 16:17). Jesus healed many people but healing is not Jesus. Jesus is healing. Jesus raised…

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Putting the “Ugh” in Ugly

Sketch by Patrick Murphy Yesterday, Americans elected Donald Trump as their next president.  (Read my pre-election thoughts here).  Today, the news and social media are blowing up with opinions about this election.  (Silly me, I thought it would be over yesterday).  Cyber-space is full of doomsday predictions, verbal attacks, defensiveness, cattiness, and righteous indignation in…

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The Complete Jesus–Mallory Patrick

Today’s post is by my sister-in-law, Mallory Patrick! *** “Behold, I cast out demons, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected” (Luke 13:32) Many believers focus on Jesus’ pre-Cross ministry, which included visible, miraculous healings and miracles. But in this verse, Jesus says that His coming was…

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Mirror

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). As I understand it, John 1:1 could read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was face to face with God, and what God was the Word was.” I love the thought of God…

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Gremlins, Leeches, and the Failure of the Serenity Prayer

I have a toddler.   Anyone who has raised one knows it is among the most exhausting things you will ever do. They are in constant motion—usually in the wrong direction.   Whether toward danger or irresponsibility they jigger gigglingly toward it. Toddlers survive because parents constantly jerk their verbal leashes and, sometimes, their literal…

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Incense

Crushed and broken Pulverized Laid on the altar Set on fire There’s nothing left but smoke to rise Everything consumed but fragrance and light Not I Christ

Just the Factions, Ma’am

America’s presidential election is…beyond description.  People often say they’re voting for the lesser of two evils. But many see no clear favorite in the race toward lesser evil.  (And what a sad finish line that is). The picture above captures this feeling.  Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump are imagined as super-villains from “The Dark Knight,” part…

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Passover for Third Graders–Cameron Fultz

Cameron Fultz is a friend and author of several books, including Jesus Pictures.  Jesus Pictures looks at the stories in the Bible as pictures of Jesus.  We have not fully understood any passage of the Bible until we’ve seen Jesus in it.  This is only possible as the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to our hearts through the…

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21st Century Faux

This is the 21st century. The colors have bled. There is no moral to our story. The myths are just that, and we have murdered the gods. But what of it? Everything is ours now. We created it. We, the bastard lords of the real world. And I just want to get what I can…

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