The beginning of the Book of Isaiah identifies the period covered by the prophet: "The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." This would place the ministry of Isaiah roughly in the period 750-700 BC, during the latter …
Revolution thwarted – but not dead
It is a fact of human history that revolutions almost always end up as something other than originally intended. The revolution of faith that God initiated in chapter 12 of Genesis, when Abraham obeyed God's call in faith and moved from the land of his father to the land God chose for him, that revolution of …
Prayer and Fasting and the Positive Life
A friend sent me an email this morning with the photo of a curlew. This bird has "developed a long beak to dig out food, just as we theologians must do to find truth for God's people." He told me he'd be preaching today "where Jesus is in our society today, in places where …
Only Two Ways to be Honest with God
In thinking about today's reading from Genesis 12:1-7, I can't find something better to write than what Mike Mair wrote a couple months ago about this passage. He is a biblical blogger in Scotland whom I've quoted in the past and who has posted some responses to my own posts. I obtained his permission to quote …
Two Cities, Two Covenants
The contrast couldn't be greater. Our lectionary reading from Genesis 10:32-11:9 bypasses the genealogy of nations in chapter 10 and brings us to the construction at Babel. The reading from Isaiah 28:14-22 confronts us with God's building project. The two buildings are in the sharpest possible contrast - at least in biblical terms - but they also …
A Pleasant Vineyard?
I'd prefer not to bother with Noah and his sons in today's reading from Genesis 9:18-10:1. I'd rather leave Noah to his drunken nakedness and the racist curse he pronounces on Ham's son, Canaan. What's so terrible about Ham seeing his father drunk and naked? And why put the curse on Ham's son who had nothing to do …
Theology of the Cross, Part 1
The third in a short series of Bible Study classes exploring the themes of the Sundays of Lent focused on the Cross of Jesus Christ, which is venerated on the Third Sunday of Lent in the Orthodox Church (last Sunday, March 15th). An audio file of the class is attached, together with the PowerPoint presentation and a PDF version of the …
A Rainbow for All
What a relief! The church lectionary skips about ten chapters in the Book of Isaiah and we jump today to chapter 25, a wonderful pause from God's apocalyptic threats. Here instead we find again the image of God as savior and provider for the poor and the suffering. It is the perfect companion to today's reading in Genesis …
Synthetic Lives
It is always amusing to watch the squabbles of pop stars and entertainment icons. The latest is the one between the pop singer Elton John and the fashion icons Dolce & Gabbana. Of course it's hypocritical of D&G to use words like 'synthetic' when everything they stand for is synthetic. High fashion is synthetic; the …
God’s π
Yesterday, March 14, marked the annual observance of Pi Day. It only works in the American way of writing dates, so it's mostly in this country that mathematicians get excited. But yesterday wasn't just March 14, it was March 14, 2015: 3-14-15 in the usual shorthand that we write dates, and Pi to four decimal places …
Ancient Answers 