Fires burning. Plumes of ash rising up through the air. The sound of hammers on stone, axes on wood. Every civic rhythm changed. A whole nation shaken to its bones, literally. All this by the hand of Josiah, King of Judah. Josiah took the throne of his father Amon at the age of eight. He inherited from Amon and his grandfather, Manasseh, a land full of idolatry and … [Read more...] about The King of Reformers
The Mighty Devotional Pencil
There are two kinds of people in the world, those who write in their bibles and those who don't. I don't write in my bible. Typically. Lately, however, I have changed my routine. I started using a one-year bible, like the kind that's out of order and organized by daily readings. Because it's not "really" a bible, I feel free to mark it up, and here's what I've found: it's … [Read more...] about The Mighty Devotional Pencil
The Unknown Preacher
Charles Spurgeon was converted at Primitive Methodist Chapel on Artillery Street in Colchester, Essex. That much no one contests. But no one knows who preached the sermon that led to his conversion. Think about that. The prince of preachers, the prolific and profound Spurgeon was forever changed by some no-named preacher. That's encouraging. Do you ever feel like … [Read more...] about The Unknown Preacher
Excess of Artistry
We spent the day at the zoo. Bears, elephants, and splash pads. Every time we go (we have season passes), I wonder at the variety of creatures and the uniqueness of each. The Red Pandas are ridiculously designed and ridiculously cute. The giraffes look preposterous and the elephants unlikely. What I see in each animal is the excess of artistry, not the burden of … [Read more...] about Excess of Artistry
A Gentle Rebuke
This is great: "Christopher Robin…said, 'Silly old bear,' in such a loving voice that everyone felt quite hopeful again."A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh (New York: Penguin, 1992), p. 29. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). May all our rebukes land so gently. … [Read more...] about A Gentle Rebuke