God is a Warrior – Household Words:

SHOCK AND AWE: the Lord in Heaven Laughs. Psalm 2.

When Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the world was outraged. On January 17, 1991, a coalition of 42 nations invaded Iraq in order to beat the Iraqis back into Baghdad. The people in Arabian lands have come a long way from the days of camels and tents. But Saddam wasContinue reading “SHOCK AND AWE: the Lord in Heaven Laughs. Psalm 2.”

BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.

Pictured: “The 2000-Yard Stare” by Thomas Calloway “Tom” Lea, III, oil on canvas (1944). In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. –Herodotus. King David was the commander-in-chief of a kingdom at war. Saul’s kingdom had been one of drama, intrigue, and Saul’s obsessive quest to murder David. David had betterContinue reading “BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.”

CAN A FATHER BE BOTH TENDER AND TERRIFYING? Hosea 11:8-9.

God is both. The movie that best captures my view of my father is Mel Gibson’s THE PATRIOT. The dad is wise and thoughtful, avoiding war, but when war comes for his sons, he takes action in a manner that is fierce to say the least. God hates sin and will destroy those who wouldContinue reading “CAN A FATHER BE BOTH TENDER AND TERRIFYING? Hosea 11:8-9.”

God Comes Through.

When we are desperate, truly driven to the end, with no way out, God shows up. When Israel was outnumbered, King Jehoshaphat prayed a desperate prayer: “We do not know what to do, but we look to you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12. God responded through a prophet: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of thisContinue reading “God Comes Through.”

God is LOOKING for Someone to Bless!

Israel fought many wars against pagan nations. As a Bible reader, it is easy to assume God will always intervene so His people win every war. After all, the surrounding nations worship idols but Israel worships the One True God, right? But what if Israel has a civil war? If Judah and Benjamin takeContinue reading “God is LOOKING for Someone to Bless!”

This is a Rescue!

John Eldredge compares the saving work of Jesus to the work of Tom Hanks and his cohort in the film SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Jesus is not the Fuller Brush man, knocking on a housewife’s door to sell her a new broom. He’s not the ice cream man, trolling the neighborhood, offering something sweet to anyoneContinue reading “This is a Rescue!”