When given the opportunity by Cyrus to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon, a small percentage of the people eagerly accepted. For decades, they had proven themselves good citizens, supporting the empire. Though there had been sadness and nostalgia, there were no uprisings or resistance. But when the chance to go home was offered, they seized it. Most, however, chose to stay. They had heeded the counsel of Jeremiah: building houses, planting gardens, multiplying, and making extraordinary contributions to the welfare of the cities where they lived.Those who stayed had little interest in returning to the ruins of their once-great city. It was not until 80…

In a 2019 podcast titled In A Metal Mood, Malcolm Gladwell addresses the issue of cultural appropriation. He tells how many of the top hits of the 1950s and 60s were written and first performed by Black artists, but only became popular once recorded and “appropriated” by white performers. For example, Pat Boone’s first big record in 1955 was Ain’t That a Shame, written by “Fats” Domino and Dave Bartholomew. His next #1 song, Tutti Frutti, was written and first performed by Little Richard and other Black musicians. Boone’s versions, of course, were heavily toned down. Likewise, Elvis Presley’s 1956 hits Don’t Be Cruel and All Shook Up were originally…

If you’ve ever taken on a “read the Bible in one year” challenge, you’ve likely given yourself a pass when you reached the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles—those long lists of over 900 names tracing the descendants of Adam and the patriarchs. And if your pastor preaches verse by verse, there’s a good chance he’s skimmed quickly through the “hard name begat hard name who begat hard name” sections before announcing, “And now we come to the text for this morning.” Even Paul advised Timothy not to get caught up in “fables and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.” And yet, here we…

As we grow older, our doctors begin visits with new questions. We are asked if we’ve fallen recently, feeling depressed or anxious, remember our medications, or struggle to follow conversations. It often feels like the beginning of a gentle but steady descent into the embrace of the inevitable. While dying is a universal experience, there are two extraordinary examples in the Old Testament where men—Enoch in Genesis and Elijah here—were simply taken up alive. Neither had final words or opportunity to reflect on the world they were leaving behind for their children. Neither had time to fulfill a bucket list. Enoch simply kept walking with God, and though Elijah’s departure…

A young friend asked me this week about growing older. I told him I was born to be old—these are the best years of my life. We get discounts, help with lifting luggage into overhead bins, respect, and a host of other advantages. But there’s a flip side to aging, especially for Boomers. Neil Howe writes in “The Fourth Turning Is Here” that some of us will become increasingly pompous, intolerant, uncompromising, and demanding. The real question, he says, is whether this generation will restrain its latent ruthlessness—or be restrained by others. If not, he warns, Boomers could become “the worst nightmare that could happen to the world.” Ruthlessness? Nightmare?…

He who seeks revenge digs two graves — Confucius There are a few figures in Scripture who grow on you with age. Perhaps, as we mature, we come to understand their circumstances more deeply—or maybe we find we have more in common with them. Our own experiences help explain their behavior. That has been the case for me with Ahithophel. When I first encountered his story years ago, my reaction was simple: “Oh, the traitor who committed suicide.” Yes, he did—but he was far more than that, and it’s the “far more” that interests me. When Absalom rebelled, his first call was to Ahithophel—David’s most devout friend and counselor. Surprisingly,…

For me, the most riveting scene in “Braveheart” is the Battle of Stirling where William Wallace, greatly outnumbered by the English soldiers and cavalry approaching their position, says, “Hold.” Every Scot has their eyes on Wallace alone as he commands them to do nothing. It is difficult to watch as the English forces bear down on the line of defenders. “Wait,” he says time and again until the horses and riders are almost on top of the Scots and then he yells, “Now!” At that moment his men raise their long wooden pikes and impale horses and soldiers alike. The English retreat while the Scots rout and slaughter them. It…

For me, the book is as much about Naomi and Boaz and how they respond to the hands they are dealt. Not a romance but a story of how two people salvage each other. This is an account that could be ours today. We, like Naomi, are sometimes forced into change with new circumstances but, instead of working out the way we hope, our lives may get worse and more complicated.  At some point we learn we are not protected from reality. I have read commentators who see Naomi’s difficulties the same as she does – God’s hand against her for leaving. I don’t take it that way.  When there…