Category Archives: On the way to Sunday’s sermon

How Moses Becomes God to Pharaoh

Posted on September 26, 2013 by PaulVK

I am YHWH God breaks the boredom of Moses’ desert shepherding by lighting up a bush that isn’t consumed. God’s “offer you can’t refuse” to Moses achieves its result, Moses and Aaron carry the message to Pharaoh. The outcome of … Continue reading →

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Rahab as model for Faith-Works-Saved

Posted on September 19, 2013 by PaulVK

Meet Rahab I’ve been working my Adult Sunday School class through the middle of James 2, figuring out the matrix of faith-works-saved. Rahab becomes James’ last example of how faith-works-saved works together. Rahab herself is a fascinating character in the … Continue reading →

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God, the Unrelenting Bringer of Trouble

Posted on September 18, 2013 by PaulVK

“Who is Yhwh that I should listen to him” Pharaoh The story of the Exodus is not so much the story of Moses vs. Pharaoh but a story about God vs. all of us. God in this story is more … Continue reading →

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Why did Moses Go and Pharaoh Harden

Posted on September 11, 2013 by PaulVK

God vs. Moses and Pharaoh When we think about the story of Israel’s release from slavery in the book of Exodus, we usually think about it in terms of God and Moses vs. Pharaoh. We don’t usually reflect on the … Continue reading →

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A God with Skin in the Game

Posted on September 5, 2013 by PaulVK

“Stay out of Syria” I noted on Facebook today a politically liberal friend sporting a “Stay out of Syria” image for her profile picture. When my lefty friends make similar noises as Sarah Palin it always gets my attention. Internet … Continue reading →

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The Worldly Church

Posted on August 23, 2013 by PaulVK

If you ask an evangelical what it means to be “worldly” you will probably hear a lot about sex, substances or other vices. You probably won’t hear a lot about love. This is currently a source of great disconnect for … Continue reading →

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The Frustrating Refuge for Fearful Hearts

Posted on August 16, 2013 by PaulVK

Not Useless We are a utilitarian society. We value people based on what we value that they can “produce”. The aged and dying are considered useless, perhaps maintained if sufficient funds are available to afford the sentiment value. The account … Continue reading →

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Making Up Our Mind on the God of Lean Years

Posted on August 2, 2013 by PaulVK

Why James Upsets Good People It’s not secret that the Epistle of James in the New Testament frustrates and angers many people, including Christians who wouldn’t want to be publicly seen as being “against the Bible”. When some in our … Continue reading →

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What Joseph Testing His Brothers May Say about God Testing Us

Posted on July 25, 2013 by PaulVK

Life Has More Bonds Than Mere Slavery While Joseph carries out the business of feeding and saving the world, the relational story line of his family hangs unfinished. What has become of Jacob and his family? Chapter 42 opens with … Continue reading →

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Joseph and the God who brings Famine

Posted on July 20, 2013 by PaulVK

Zero to Hero in One Meeting With Joseph being a slave in prison feeling abandoned by the cupbearer and perhaps by God Pharaoh wakes from a dream with a start. Carnivorous cows and grain eating grain. He knows it must … Continue reading →

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