Death came into my life during the night when I was around ten years old, taking with it a beautiful white dog named Princess. A few more dogs followed over the years, one of which I raised from a tiny puppy.
Connections 01.24.2016: A Wedding in Cana
January 17, 2016 by
Jesus didn’t make it a regular practice, so far as we know, to protect people from party disasters. Still, John viewed this miracle as so important that he put it right up front in his story of Jesus and went out of his way to point out that it was Jesus’ first miracle.
Connections 01.10.2016: The Most Beautiful Bride
January 3, 2016 by
I imagine you’ve heard of a hopeless romantic. I’m not one of those. I’m a hopeful romantic. I believe that hope leads to love and that love leads to hope. I believe that love changes the way we see those we love.
Connections 01.03.2016: The Story of Love
December 27, 2015 by
I grew up on Disney princess movies, many of which had this plot: A girl lives with her father (or horrific stepmother) because her mother suffered some fatal accident or succumbed to sickness.
Uniform 12.27.2015: A Generous Gift
December 20, 2015 by
I have a confession to make. There was a time when I thought Christmas was about me. Now, don’t think I was worse than I was. I knew that Christmas was really about the birth of Jesus.
Uniform 12.20.2015: What Can I Bring?
December 13, 2015 by
Our unit title is “What We Bring to God.” Have you ever thought about that? Often, we focus on what God gives to us. The list is both lengthy and weighty: salvation, grace, a Savior who identifies with us, a Scripture text for guidance, the Earth with all its provisions.
Uniform 12.13.2015: Acceptable Offerings
December 6, 2015 by
I was the young new pastor at the church. As I walked around the offices, I noticed that every room had a different color carpet, that a lot of it was ugly, and that none of it was what you’d call “nice.”
Uniform 12.06.2015: A True Sabbath
November 29, 2015 by
Before you read further, stop and name everything on your to-do list—all the little everyday concerns that add up to create a relatively smooth life for you and those in your care.
Uniform 11.29.2015: Teaching God’s Word
November 22, 2015 by
When Paul’s missionary partners Timothy and Silas arrived in Corinth, they found him “occupied with the word” (v. 5; NRSV supplies “proclaiming,” which is not in the Greek text). What was he doing with the word with which he was occupied?
Uniform 11.22.2015: A Pathway for Sharing Christ
November 15, 2015 by
Derbe. Philippi. Thessalonica. Beroea. Athens. And on and on the journey goes. Paul and others made the trip without jets or cars—and probably even without horses.
Uniform 11.15.2015: From Derbe to Philippi
November 8, 2015 by
The late comedian Mitch Hedberg talked about people who helped their friends move. “I like to help my friends stay,” he deadpanned. I think that one of the basic questions of the Christian life, not to mention of human existence, is whether we should go or stay.
Uniform 11.08.2015: A Fence around the Kingdom
November 1, 2015 by
Women deacons weren’t widespread at the time, but the church my mother attended had made the change to their constitution, ruling that the office of deacon was open to qualified “people” rather than just “men.”
Uniform 11.01.16: God Releases the Captive
October 25, 2015 by
Peter was in jail, bound by chains, surrounded by guards, and in danger of being executed. He was in those dire circumstances because of his faithfulness to Christ. Many Christians around the world experience persecution because of their faith.
Uniform 10.25.2015: A Help or a Hindrance?
October 18, 2015 by
When someone is doing a truly good work, most of us want to help them—or at least not hinder them. This time last year, I worked at an annual fundraiser for a local nonprofit that helps families with children who have cancer.
Uniform 10.18.15: Peter Takes a Risk
October 11, 2015 by
Sometime back in the mid-1960s, a friend of mine invited me to accompany his mother and him on a trip to one of the beautiful state parks in our state. The main event on our itinerary was swimming in the park’s lake.
Uniform 10.11.2015: A Credible Witness
October 4, 2015 by
Few childhood stories have lessons as powerful as that of the boy who cried, “Wolf!” Most of us are familiar with the tale: Assigned with the task of keep watching over a flock of sheep, a boy finds the job boring and thankless.
Uniform 10.04.2015: The Spirit Is Not for Sale
September 27, 2015 by
“Simony” isn’t a word that we hear every day. As a matter of fact, I might never have heard it had I not taken Church History in seminary—or if I didn’t watch “Jeopardy.” Simony is the buying and selling of church offices.
Uniform 09.27.2015: Dancing in the Silence
September 20, 2015 by
At a Baptist Student Union meeting in college, I heard a charming story about a dancer who was on stage, in the middle of a performance, when her music stopped. If you’ve ever stood in front of a crowd for any reason, you can imagine how she felt: heart pounding, stomach clenching, face flushing.
Uniform 09.20.2015: Witnessing to the Truth
September 13, 2015 by
As you read this week’s text, you may think, as I did, that it offers an opportunity to talk about the jailing of Rowan County (Kentucky) clerk Kim Davis, who was found to be in contempt of court for refusing to issue any marriage licenses because of her opposition to same-sex marriage.
Uniform 09.13.2015: The Gift of Sharing
September 6, 2015 by
In The Giver, Lois Lowry’s Newbery award-winning novel for kids in middle grades (and adults too!), young Jonas is part of a tightly controlled community where everyone is the same, no one goes hungry, and each person’s career is chosen for him or her during a special ceremony.
Uniform 09.06.2015: Praying for One Another
August 30, 2015 by
In a song of my generation, the singer pleads, “Tell me what you want and I’ll give you what you need.” I’ve learned over the years that my prayers often go like that—I ask God for what I want and God gives me what I need.
Uniform 08.30.2015: Because I Have Been Given Much
August 23, 2015 by
“Humans of New York” is a popular photoblog with more than 14,500,000 followers on Facebook. The author, photographer Brandon Stanton, “decided to move to New York City and take portraits of strangers on the street” (Humans of New York, “Photographer”).
Uniform 08.23.2015: God Demands Justice
August 16, 2015 by
For centuries they preached that worship rituals were invalid unless accompanied by proper concern for other people, and especially for the most vulnerable in the society.
Uniform 08.16.2015: Life or Death?
August 9, 2015 by
Have you ever taken one of those quizzes meant to determine your personality through a few (often weird) questions? Your collective answers then assign you either some label or some reward.
Uniform 08.09.2015: A Choice to Be Just
August 2, 2015 by
In the 1984 film Mass Appeal, the older priest is a “Don’t rock the boat” sort while the younger man fervently believes that the boat really needs to be rocked–if not sunk.
Connections is Coming!
July 29, 2015 by
Beginning with the January–April 2016 trimester, the Uniform Bible Study series will become Connections. You may wonder what will change besides the name. Well, not much—at least not right away.
Uniform 08.02.2015: Looking for a Hero
July 26, 2015 by
I love superhero movies. Spider-Man, Superman, Thor, Captain America, and my favorite, Iron Man. And when several of these heroes come together, like in The Avengers, it’s SUPER exciting for me.
Uniform 07.26.2015: The Last Word is “Grace”
July 19, 2015 by
Most of Micah’s message is about justice and judgment; as God’s prophet, he hammers away at the need for the people of eighth century Israel to acknowledge and repent of their sins.
Uniform 07.19.2015: What God Requires
July 12, 2015 by
Over my years as an assistant editor for Smyth & Helwys, I have read countless Scripture verses, dozens of Bible commentaries, and thousands of words by people like you and me who are doing their best to follow God’s way.
Uniform 07.12.2015: No Tolerance for Corrupt Leaders and Prophets
July 5, 2015 by
In a 1963 episode of The Andy Griffith Show entitled “Opie and the Spoiled Kid,” Opie’s friend Arnold kept getting into trouble. Andy finally confiscated the boy’s bicycle due to violations of Mayberry’s no riding bikes on the sidewalk ordinance.
Uniform 07.05.2015: The Stranger Among Us
June 28, 2015 by
You are sitting with your friends, getting ready for Bible study. It’s a weekly event that you all look forward to—good company along with spiritual growth as you learn about God together. A visitor walks in.
Uniform 06.28.2015: No Rest for the Greedy or the Needy
June 21, 2015 by
One reason that Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath was out of a sense of empathy for those who were most tied to their labor, who were most dependent on those who were wealthier than they were.
Uniform 06.21.2015: From Ivory Beds to Homeless Shelters
June 14, 2015 by
These verses from Amos are a scathing commentary on the lives of the comfortable. Chances are, if you’re reading this article (or discussing it in a Bible study, etc.), you are fairly comfortable.
Uniform 06.14.2015: God Is Not Fooled
June 7, 2015 by
It occurred to me that we may never make much progress toward effectively addressing our social problems until we are interested in the causes as much as or more than we are in the results.
Uniform 06.07.2015: Fairness and Justice
May 31, 2015 by
Today marks the start of three units about God’s justice. Are you ready for the ride? As we begin, it might be helpful to define justice. What does it mean to you?
Uniform 05.31.2015: The Greatest Gift Is Love
May 24, 2015 by
The church can and should be a community in which its members experience a taste of heaven right here on Earth. That is so because God is present in the church and where God is, God’s love is.
Uniform 05.24.2015: The Gift of Interpretation
May 17, 2015 by
One of my favorite television series is the BBC’s Doctor Who. This long-running show features the Doctor, a time-traveling alien who looks like you and me but has an exceptional time machine/spaceship called the TARDIS.
Uniform 05.17.2015: The Spirit Creates One Body
May 10, 2015 by
J. R. Ewing was shot in his office at Ewing Oil on March 21, 1980 by an unseen and thus unknown assailant. Millions of Americans would spend the next eight months pondering and debating the question “Who shot J. R.?”
Uniform 05.10.2015: Unity in Love
May 3, 2015 by
Paul tells us that love is the strongest bond—greater than faith and hope. He gives us a description of love that seems impossible to attain, though it is definitely something worth striving for.
Uniform 05.03.2015: Walk in the Truth
April 26, 2015 by
Guiding each unit to your Sunday school classrooms has been a great privilege. I am thankful to have been part of this community that is so committed to helping people see the truth of God’s word in new, personal ways.
Uniform 04.26.2015: A Cautious Faith
April 19, 2015 by
“Trust God, but lock your doors.” I remember reading this advice years ago in one of those Life’s Little Instruction books. Sometimes the advice makes sense to me.
Uniform 04.19.2015: Recognizing Our Lies
April 12, 2015 by
In 1 John 3, John encourages us to remember that we show our love through our actions. Our faith requires us to act in love, he says. In chapter 4, John raises the stakes.
Uniform 04.12.2015: Let My Life Be the Proof
April 5, 2015 by
Brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone are the headliners of a band called for KING & COUNTRY. Born in Sydney, Australia, they moved with their family to Nashville in 1991 and sang backup vocals for their sister, Christian artist Rebecca St. James.
Uniform 04.05.2015: Of Resurrection and Moon Landings
March 29, 2015 by
On this Sunday, a high holy day for Christians around the world, many Americans will observe a holy moment in pop culture: the premiere of the final season of Mad Men.
Uniform 03.22.2015: Sent to Act
March 15, 2015 by
In the days leading up to World War II, a number of German theologians fled Germany. They could not stomach the way the church was changing under Nazi rule, and they knew that their dissenting ideas were dangerous.
Uniform 03.15.2015: A Presence in Absence
March 8, 2015 by
It started with a beautiful white dog, sprinkled with a spot or two of black. She had black ears, too, and we called her “Princess.” I was probably nine or ten the morning my father asked my siblings and me to sit on the couch.
Uniform 03.08.2015: Being an Advocate
March 1, 2015 by
We talk about people being advocates for healthcare reform, advocates for diversity, advocates for the rights of immigrants, advocates for equal pay, and the list goes on.
Uniform 03.03.2015: Baptized by the Spirit
February 22, 2015 by
Do you have a baptism story? I do. I was ten, and I remember facing my baptism with a mixture of excitement and dread.