Two men and a woman stand at the entrance to the dark tent, clad in the simple, long robes worn by nomads to ward off the scorching desert sun. As the family concludes their conversation, the woman wanders a little way from the tent to watch the setting sun. She carries her head held high. Her noble countenance bears lines from harsh weather and deep suffering and weighty concerns. As a young girl, she’d proved her mettle by guarding her infant brother when all little Hebrew boys suffered under Pharaoh’s order of death. With bold, quick insight, she made a request of Pharaoh’s Continue Reading
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What the Story of Elizabeth Means for Women Today
This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, I’ve been pondering women in Scripture who play important roles in Jesus’ early life. Here’s how I imagine and comment on the story of Elizabeth: Hands clasped around her protruding abdomen, the woman glows. Her smile deepens the lines on her weathered cheeks, betraying an age far beyond that of most women in her condition. But her age only heightens her joy, for the Lord has done the impossible for her. ‘Just like Sarah,’ she whispers to herself, ‘Yahweh has replaced my bitterness and disgrace with great joy and wonder.’ Continue Reading
Prophetic Development
When it comes to the gift of prophecy today, many Christians are hungry for the real thing. We’ve suffered embarrassment, confusion, and dismay over false prophecies, selfish motives, and abusive behavior from those who claim to speak for God. Yet we know the Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to his will for our common good. Scripture tells us he offers the gift of prophecy for our strength, encouragement and comfort. We're instructed to pursue it—and we're told how to do so within healthy guidelines! Toward that end, I offer an original, Scripture-saturated training in prophetic Continue Reading
5 Things the Bible is Not—and How to Treat it Instead
“Let’s ask the Bible a question, flip it open, and point to a verse!” said one of my church friends. Humored, the group agreed. One young mom wondered if she would have a second child. She opened her Bible, her finger landing on Obadiah 1:17, “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance..." We cracked up, but we knew we weren’t using the best approach to Scripture (and this friend didn’t have another child). Here’s what the Bible says about itself: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Continue Reading