Category Archives: Devotional Reflection

Praying the Psalms: Psalm 55

Posted on June 28, 2009 by PaulVK

This year at the Sierra Leadership Network we’ve done a lot with the Psalms. I’ve found this to be a helpful thing. One speaker, Tim Brown, the president of Western Seminary in Holland MI noted that our imaginations are too … Continue reading →

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What kind of seekers does Jesus receive?

Posted on June 19, 2009 by PaulVK

I’m working on Luke 11:29-32. It is interesting that Luke connects this to “when the crowds were increasing, he began to say” whereas Matthew does not. The passage is clearly connected to the one that precedes it on the accusation … Continue reading →

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The fool and his prayers

Posted on June 2, 2009 by PaulVK

If there is anything that speaks to God’s grace, it must be his capacity to listen to our prayers. I remember from the movie “Bruce Almighty” poor Bruce got inundated by the volume of prayers. I think more even than … Continue reading →

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God can even change the past

Posted on May 14, 2009 by PaulVK

I have too often said “even God can’t change the past”. Now I’m not so sure. I read Mark 7 for family devotions to the kids. The chapter ends with Jesus healing a deaf man. The text talks about the … Continue reading →

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A God we can do business with

Posted on May 6, 2009 by PaulVK

Philip Yancey in his chapter on Deuteronomy in The Bible Jesus Read makes this point. BOQ When God makes a list of commandments, Love takes first place, the basis of his whole relationship with humanity. God meets in a tent … Continue reading →

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Laboring Not in Vain

Posted on May 6, 2009 by PaulVK

I find one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life to communicate is the last verse of 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV) Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the … Continue reading →

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Why we should love church done poorly

Posted on May 5, 2009 by PaulVK

This is a response to a thread on CRC-Voices about sermon length. The discussion got into various aspects of sermon preaching and listening. The conditioning of modern media often comes into the discussion here. Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” is … Continue reading →

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A response to the Biologos.org site

Posted on May 4, 2009 by PaulVK

I wrote this for CiC on a thread about Francis Collins and his new project http://biologos.org. Francis Collins addresses the Veritas Forum recorded on YouTube. I had found that site after an interesting Time Magazine article on Collins: http://digg.com/u12KMK I … Continue reading →

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The Humility of God

Posted on April 17, 2009 by PaulVK

Repost from Oct 24, 2007 I never thought of the humility of God until I listened to some of Peter Kreeft’s MP3s on the net. God including God the Father is completely humble. That helps me locate humility beyond “aw … Continue reading →

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Prayer and Response

Posted on April 17, 2009 by PaulVK

Repost from Aug 18 2005 In Luke 11 he treats what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” a bit differently from Matthew. I like Luke’s treatment, not so much because of 2-4, but what he includes following it. I tend to get … Continue reading →

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