Read with Imagination – Household Words:

He Tells the Best Stories. Esther 7:9.

Everyone loves a great storyteller—and there is none greater than God himself. But the Bible is not an easy read. There are not only language challenges but also the way we tell stories has changed significantly in the last four thousand years. But the best readers can get past such challenges, and the rest ofContinue reading “He Tells the Best Stories. Esther 7:9.”

Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8

Boys in the ‘70s and ‘80s loved to jump ramps. We would lay a post on the ground and nail one end of a piece of scrap plywood to it, and voila! a ramp. Most of these were rudimentary, made from found wood that we dragged home from someone’s trash. Some of the ramps wereContinue reading “Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8”

SERMON ON THE MOUNT:You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows. Matthew 5-7.

I try to read the Bible with fresh eyes. It’s hard to read the familiar Sermon on the Mount as though I were hearing it for the first time. But I try. Jesus created images, ideas, and poetry as rich as anything by Shakespeare or MLK. And what a poetic opening! “Blessed are the poorContinue reading “SERMON ON THE MOUNT:You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows. Matthew 5-7.”

Use Your Imagination.

The Bible is the oldest book most will ever read. These 66 books were ancient when Washington, Columbus, and Luther read them. And the Bible has always been challenging. Today I read one of the harder parts—lengthy descriptions of Solomon’s temple: “He made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars,Continue reading “Use Your Imagination.”

The Time Machine.

What if you could go back to the days of Job or Abraham? There are no written scriptures. Everything you know about the One True God came to you by word of mouth passed down through generations: stories about families and wars and the flood and animal sacrifices and a God who might be listeningContinue reading “The Time Machine.”

Read the Bible Creatively.

You cannot appreciate something thousands of years old without guidance. An art teacher can help you appreciate the challenge of carving statues from marble. A musician might point out advances in the way instruments were designed. An architect might talk about the way ancient roofs were sloped to ensure snow did not accumulate. TheContinue reading “Read the Bible Creatively.”