Comfortable in the middle

This is the first in a series of posts intended to share insights I learned about how people end up believing the things they do. It feels like a good topic to discuss, given all what happened in 2020, and the information overload we are exposed to and the large number of voices competing for attention, clicks, followers, influence and even power. You might think as you read on, that this is about the creation-evolution debate, but it really isn't. This debate is how I learned what I did, but I have no intent to defend one side or the other, nor persuade readers towards a particular position in this debate. A few recent circumstances got me reminiscing about a period of time in my life when I chased the tireless rabbit of the modern creation-evolution debate.  One was the unfortunate death of a former college student of mine to COVID-19.  It got me thinking of my time as a college professor, and the memories I had of not only this student, but some of my favorite moments as...

This is the final post in the Participating in the Tree of Life Series.  Here is a link to the most recent post:  Resurrection and Roots . Every time I consider that the Tree of Life is introduced in the Genesis creation story (Genesis 2:9), and then is referenced at the end of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 22:1-3), I’m compelled to believe it is intended to communicate a critical spiritual truth. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations As I’ve detailed in previous posts, I’m convinced that God’s intent for the Tree of Life imagery is to communicate that believers are to be part of this symbolic tree.   We have a role in the Tree of Life, as a conduit for the flow of the Holy Spirit into the world around us, both in the spiritual fruit we bear, as a consequence of being filled with living water (Holy Spirit), and in the active and continual presence of the Holy Spirit around us, as it pours out of us, ministering as God intended, to the world...

This is the 14th post in the Participating in the Tree of Life series.  Here are links to the first and most recent posts. In the midst of the Easter holiday, it’s a good time to reflect on what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.   As He explained to His disciples prior to His arrest (Gospel of  John, chapter 16) Jesus would send the Holy Spirit after He was resurrected. 5 “but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Jesus’ resurrection resulted in the impartation to, and flow of the Holy Spirit through those who believe in Him.   This blog series has detailed the flow of the Holy Spirit through those who believe, using the visual imagery of plants and the Tree of Life, as...

This is the 8th post in the God’s False(?) Prophets series.  Here is a link to the first post , and the most recent post .  I’ve been waiting until the end of March to write this post.  Keep reading to find out why.   One of the false(?) prophets I find most intriguing is Hank Kunneman.   Prior to the 2020 presidential election, I was completely unaware of Pastor Kunneman (I was pretty much unaware of all the false(?) prophets).   I first ran into Hank Kunneman when he appeared as a guest on Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural! show .   It was through Sid Roth’s show I learned about the most popular false(?) prophets.   Hank Kunneman appeared many times on Sid Roth’s show in 2020.      It turns out that Hank Kunneman has developed a prophetic style following in the footsteps of Kim Clement, who seems to be the ‘go to’ authority, as the founding prophet of the Trump presidency.   Kim Clement prophesied Donald Trump’s future presiden...

I ran across this quote yesterday, from an interview with pastor and televangelist John Hagee in November 2020, after he recovered from a very serious bout with COVID-19, which resulted in 15 days of hospitalization. "We have a vaccine; the name is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Let Him sweep through this country and heal the righteous who dare to ask for it. Heal our church members. Restore them rapidly. Let the name of Jesus Christ be exalted because He is Lord over all."  Here’s a link to a video of the church service where he made this statement , if you’re interested.  This quote has left me with a number of questions, as I consider the implications of Pastor Hagee’s declaration.  I don’t ask these questions with intent to mock, but I do feel influential church leaders need to reflect carefully on their words, knowing that many people are listening and looking for guidance.  I’m not suggesting any believer put more weight on the words of a pastor than...

This is the 13th post in the Tree of Life series.  Here are links to the first and most recent posts. This post continues to explore aspects of the Holy Spirit, the water of life, which continuously flows through those who are connected to Jesus through belief in Him.  It is critical to the Christian believer to know and understand what God has made available through the Holy Spirit. This post reminds believers about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The key Bible passage addressing the gifts of the Holy Spirit is in 1st Corinthians chapter 12, and describes different gifts which are given to believers. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom...

 This is the 12th post in the Tree of Life series.  Here are links to the first and most recent posts. This post continues to explore aspects of the Holy Spirit, the water of life, which continuously flows through those who are connected to Jesus through belief in Him.  It is critical to the Christian believer to know and understand what God has made available through the Holy Spirit.  The last two posts shared how the Holy Spirit is our source of truth and understanding.  As a final reflection on the Holy Spirit as the source of truth and understanding, consider this passage Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2: 12-14: 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept...