reFlectionary posts will be periodic reflections on readings, usually the Old Testament reading, from the Daily Office Lectionary, which forms the backbone of my devotional reading. Periodically, I offer a brief homily and serve at
I detect that I am not alone in my impatience for Spring to arrive. The news reports a prosecutor attempting to bring capital charges against Punxsutawney Phil, that mantic marmot, that ultimate rodent of augury,
The History Channel’s episode featuring Samson totally freaked out a lot of viewers when Samson appeared portrayed by an actor of African ancestry, wearing dreadlocks! When I announced that I planned to offer a defense
The ongoing series on the Bible produced by the History Channel displayed some puzzling decisions in its second episode. The story of Joshua at Jericho occurs, and then the program leaps to the story of
I hope nobody thinks that my review and criticisms of the History Channel series The Bible are driven by some sense of self-importance or need to nit-pick. Far from it! I doubt the History Channel will
The debut of the History Channel’s much anticipated 10 hour series “The Bible” created a lot of excitement among churches and Bible readers. The two producers in many ways embody the dual identity of the
When the Hindenburg blew in 1937, engineers accepted the reality that the rigid airship needed to be completely rethought. However great the lift gained by using Hydrogen, its explosive tendencies ruled it out as a
I wrote the following many years ago, having used it in a segment of my Old Testament introduction lectures for seminarians for even more years. I re-post it periodically because I feel it’s still pertinent.
With the Christmas season here, and our minds and hearts full of thoughts about the “King of Kings” arriving in our world, I thought I’d share the final paragraphs of my commentary on Judges, which
So it’s my last day in Israel. I leave late Monday night, but Monday will be spent with sorting, organizing, giving away, packing, weighing, re-packing…obsessing and fretting over departure. So today was really my last
I have developed an obsession. For so long, I’ve watched Jews venerate the Western Wall. They touch it, cry at it, stuff paper prayer requests in the stones, they believe it is the constant center
This post continues a series adapted from my commentary on the book of Judges in the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series (Tyndale) working out the framework needed to interpret and apply stories of violence in the book of
