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Understanding Isaiah 53: The Arm of God Revealed

Understanding Isaiah 53: The Arm of God Revealed ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV)“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of Sorrows…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Atteberry & Allin

For this week’s post about my journey through my own personal library, I will highlight two books! I have so many books in my library that it is high time I make sure I have read each work on my shelves! The first book I will highlight is Mark Atteberry’s “The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do” (2006). The second book I will highlight is Dana Allin’s “Simple Discipleship” (2018). The first is…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Augsburg Confession

The Augsburg Confession (1530) The Augsburg Confession (1530) is a foundational document of the Lutheran Church that outlines its core beliefs. The section that grabbed my attention as I read was the last section which focused on various practices and reforms within the Church. It made me appreciate how much the reformers laid on the line to reform the Church and move Christendom in what I would…

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My Reading Journey 2025: They Smell Like Sheep

They Smell Like Sheep by Lynn Anderson They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century by Lynn Anderson (1997) is a guide to effective and authentic spiritual leadership in the local church. The emphasis is shepherding God’s people with a servant’s heart. I found the book to be pretty comprehensive about the position of elders in the local church. The metaphor of shepherding is…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Luther's 1529 Small Catechism

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Luther’s 1529 Small Catechism I found the introduction to this creed (also called a catechism) absolutely astounding. As Martin Luther traveled among Christians, he noted that the average person in the Church knew “absolutely nothing about the Christian faith.” He berates in the introduction of the creed/catechism that because the affirmed Christians did not know the basics…

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My Reading Journey 2025: Confessions of St Augustine

My Reading Journey 2025: Confessions of St Augustine Saint Augustine’s Confessions is a famous work of Christian literature that combines autobiography, theology, and philosophy. Written in 13 books, it chronicles Augustine’s journey from a life of sin and spiritual confusion to his eventual conversion to Christianity. Books 1-3: Childhood and 20s. Augustine begins with a profound reflection on…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Ten Theses of Berne

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Ten Theses of Berne As a student of religion, Christianity, and a person with two degrees in Bible (BA, MDiv), I have a working knowledge and a passing familiarity with most things about the Bible and Church. I stumbled upon this short creed and have never heard/read about it before now. If I have, I have completely forgotten it. It is important because it outlines the…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Starting Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold

My 2025 Reading Journey: Starting Small Groups by Jeffrey Arnold Starting Small Groups: Building Communities that Matter by Jeffrey Arnold (Abingdon Press: 1997) is an intensely practical guide for church leaders and lay church leaders who want to create and sustain thriving small group ministries. Arnold emphasizes the importance of small groups in fostering community, spiritual growth, and…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Chalcedonian Creed

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Chalcedonian Creed The Chalcedonian Creed, formulated at the Council of Chalcedon (cal-seh-don) in 451 AD, is an important document in Christian theology. It addresses key questions about the nature of Jesus Christ emphasizing that He is both fully divine and fully human. As with the Athanasian Creed, this is an essential Christian doctrine that separates normal Christians…

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My 2025 Reading Journey: Charles L. Allen Books Reviewed

My 2025 Reading Journey: Charles L. Allen Books Reviewed The very first books on my bookshelf… yes it is in alphabetical order by author, were inherited books from a pastor I served with for many years. He seemed to like them very much as he had several copies of each of these books by Charles L. Allen (1913-2005). I kept one copy of each of the following books and gave away the rest. I read…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Athanasian Creed (Part 2)

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Athanasian Creed (Part 2) THE ATHANASIAN CREED The Athanasian Creed, also known as the Quicunque vult (from its opening words in Latin), is a Christian statement of faith traditionally attributed to Saint Athanasius (ath-ah-nay-shuss) of Alexandria. There are two key emphases for this creed: Trinitarian Doctrine and the Incarnation of Jesus. For this post (part 2), we’ll…

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My Reading Journey in 2025

My Reading Journey in 2025 I have an extensive library. When I say extensive, I mean all the walls of my office are full of books. I went to school far too long, spent too much time in bookstores, and never met a library sale I didn’t like. I have a lot of books. I feel like I have read them all, but I know that is not true. Some have been gifts that I haven’t read. It is time to read them. I…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Athanasian Creed (Part 1)

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Athanasian Creed (Part 1) THE ATHANASIAN CREED The Athanasian Creed, also known as the Quicunque vult (from its opening words in Latin), is a Christian statement of faith traditionally attributed to Saint Athanasius (ath-ah-nay-shuss) of Alexandria. There are two key emphases for this creed: Trinitarian Doctrine and the Incarnation of Jesus. For this post (part 1), we’ll…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Nicene Creed

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Nicene Creed NICENE CREED BASICS The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD). It is a foundational statement of Christian faith. It affirms key beliefs about the nature of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. Here are its highlights: #1 Belief in One God: Affirms belief in one God, the Father Almighty,…

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CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Apostle’s Creed

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: The Apostle’s Creed The Apostles’ Creed is a succinct statement of the Christian faith. In my mind, one that comes from a Christian tradition that does not use creeds, the Apostle’s Creed is the first one of which I think. It covers the basics of Christianity (which all creeds do for those in previous generations who could not read or write) in a way that can be learned and…

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B1BLE BY THE NUMB3R5: Number 4

The number 4 indicates completeness earthly-things.

Sometimes people see truth in patterns in the Bible that are fanciful. There are indeed symbolic numbers and spiritual meanings to some numerals, but all numbers are not pregnant with mystery or a divine conspiracy. What about the number: 4? I immediately think of the craziest spiritual beings we could have imagined in the Four Living Creatures from Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. I think Ezekiel…

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B1BLE BY THE NUMB3R5: Number 2

The number 2 seems to be a number that describes fundamental reality and life: human relationships, covenant, and even truthfulness.

Sometimes people see truth in patterns in the Bible that are fanciful. There are indeed symbolic numbers and spiritual meanings to some numerals, but all numbers are not pregnant with mystery or a divine conspiracy. What about the number: 2? When I think about the number two, my brain immediately goes to the emphasis and contrast in the Bible between good and evil. Adam and Eve in Genesis (OT)…