Chip Shots

Wednesday: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8 Jacob is a curious character in the Bible. He’s not often thought of as a biblical hero, an example of faith. In truth, his relationship with God was more of a struggle than anything else. They had a rocky relationship, to say the least. (He is, after all, the guy whose name became “Israel,” which means something like, “He who struggles with God.”) Sounds a lot like you and me, doesn't it? We first meet Jacob grabbing at his brother’s heel – while they are being born – as if to say, “Me First!” His name means, literally, “He who grasps the heel.” He is the “supplanter.” He’s always trying to get ahead, trying to be first, trying to gain an advantage. We might call him, “Trickster.” We see it in his birth, and we see it in his youth. And yet, for reasons known only to God, Jacob is the one through whom God’s covenant blessing will be given. But he is unwilling to trust God work to things out in his own way. He tricks his older brother out of his...

Wednesday: Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4 Daily Bread Project (Day 4) The first few chapters of Genesis have flown by, but they are incredibly important to the rest of the story. Like the opening credits to the famed Star Wars movies, they set the stage for the action to follow. Thus far, what have we learned? First, we’ve discovered that the world is here by God’s loving design. It is not the result of a war between the gods (as per ancient Babylonian and Egyptian stories), nor is it merely an accident of nature (as per contemporary scientific theories). The implications of this are enormous, for if true, it shows that the human quest for meaning and morality is not merely a matter of personal taste. Instead, it is a reflection of the God who made us. If it’s not true and we are here only by accident -- well, life is essentially meaningless and morality is whatever we decide it to be. Kind of like contemporary culture, don’t you think? Next, we’ve found out that the root of thi...

Think of the Bible as a four-act play, an epic story of God’s love affair with the world he created and the people he made. It’s a story of beauty, of brokenness, of rescue and renewal. It’s the true story of the world. Yes, it’s ancient. Yes, parts of it are obscure. Yes, it can be baffling. But it tells the most compelling story, a story which has rung true in human hearts for four millennia, and which has utterly shaped the foundations of our western society. I hope you will join the many from our church family who are beginning the journey of discovering/rediscovering this story during the course of the next year. It is, as I said, a four-act story of beauty, brokenness, rescue and renewal. Act One: Beauty (Genesis 1-2) In the beautiful opening act of our story, we learn that creation is not an accident, but rather the result of God’s loving intention. The first humans enjoyed harmony with God, with one another, within themselves, and with creation. God gave humanity the ...