Chip Shots

Psalm 74 is a song of lament, composed amid the smoldering ruins of the Temple of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Israel's enemies had captured their city and burned their beloved temple to the ground. As you might imagine, this was a catastrophic event for the people of Israel. Given the recent fires which have ravaged our own community, we can identify with their pain. But there was a deeper devastation that made the demise of the temple particularly poignant. For it was not just an important place of worship. The temple was the key symbol of their national identity, the glue that told them who they were: God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule. Without the temple, the center of their lives was obliterated, and everything – literally everything – was up for grabs: their identity, their purpose, and their security. Like the hub of a bicycle, when the center fails, everything falls apart. Generally, when I read this psalm, I recall the horrifying pictures of the smoldering ruins of ...

It is Well (Azusa Pacific Concert Choir, 1980 ) “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you  and that you may be in good health,  as it goes well with your soul.” These words, written from a pastor to his church family (3 John 2), perfectly express my thoughts and prayers for you during this unprecedented season of our lives. Look at it again: Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you Yes, I pray that all may go well with you as we travel these uncertain days together. Our world has turned upside down, hasn't it? Some of us are out of work; others have more than we can handle. Some of us wonder what happened to our investments; others are wondering how we will pay this month’s bills. Some of us are enjoying our free time, and some of us are going stir crazy! We are all spending a lot more time at home. Generally speaking, that’s a good thing; I hope you’re making the most of it. Are you getting your home projects done, or are you finding excu...

This is the strangest St. Patrick’s Day in memory. Rather than gathering in its pubs to celebrate, America is hunkered in its homes to hibernate. What are we to make of this? How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s day when the coronavirus clogs the airwaves, closes the airways, and contaminates the air? Perhaps St. Patrick can help. For while his holiday is widely celebrated, Patrick himself is virtually unknown. Who was he? Why is he remembered as the patron saint of Ireland? The surprising thing about Patrick is that he was not even Irish. He was born in Britain around 390 A.D. His family was deeply religious – his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest – but Patrick was not. When Patrick was sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and enslaved in Ireland. For six long years he was malnourished and mistreated, fearing for his life, and longing for his family. As is often the case, however, hard times offer the opportunity for spiritual growth and character development. ...