I John 4:12-16

John discusses our love for one another and our belief in the Son as evidences of our salvation.  He seeks to assure His readers of their standing before God.  He tells them they can know they live in God and God lives in them by the presence of the Spirit in their lives.  And they […]

I John 4:9-11

John amplifies the truth that God is love by pointing to what God did as a result.  God’s nature of love showed itself in the act of sending His Son into the world to die.  That the Son died so we can live proves that God is the source and standard of love, and that […]

Jesus – Walter Wangerin

This book is a novel written as a biography of Jesus.  It takes stories from the gospel accounts and fills in dialogue, feelings and thoughts and puts them into a collected narrative of Jesus’ life.  It’s written primarily from the perspective of two people – John the beloved disciple and Mary the mother of Jesus.  […]

Alexander Hamilton – Ron Chernow

It’s an enormous book but it’s worth the look You won’t regret the time that reading it took It’s a comprehensive story about Alexander Hamilton And includes a lot about Jefferson and Washington It’s got politics and love, war and duels Guys shooting at each other like ignorant fools Big names, big egos and founding […]

I John 4:7-8

John returns to the topic of brotherly love.  From 4:7 through 5:12 John repeats themes he discussed earlier in the letter because he wants to make sure his readers fully grasp their importance.  In these two verses John elaborates on what it means to love one another and helps us understand why it is so […]

I John 4:1-6

John uses his discussion of assurance through the Holy Spirit in 3:24 as a launching point to instruct his readers about spiritual discernment.  In an age where the New Testament does not yet exist and the church is dependent on oral communication, it is imperative that the church identify which teachers are truly Spirit-led and […]

Natural Causes – Barbara Ehrenreich

The author begins this book with a fairly provocative statement: In the last few years I have given up on the many medical measures – cancer screenings, annual exams, Pap smears, for example – expected of a responsible person with health insurance.  The reason she’s done this – she says later in the chapter – […]

Perspective 55

When I was in my early twenties, I remember hoping that I’d never lose my hair, but if I did, I hoped it would be after I turned 30 because then I wouldn’t care. When I was 26, I worked with a guy who was 12 years older than me.  I remember talking to him […]

I John 3:19-24

John moves from his discussion of loving in deed and truth in verse 18 to now explain how active love (and active obedience overall) leads to assurance of belief.  Much like he has stated in other parts of the book, he makes the point here that actions are the proof of belief; without actions there […]