Tag Archives: Genesis

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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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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James, Joseph, Wisdom and the Meek Sufferers of Empire

Posted on July 18, 2013 by PaulVK

Part of the fun of the pastoral life where I have two weekly Bible preps are reading books I wouldn’t normally put together, together. Right now I’m in James and Joseph. Joseph and Wisdom Yesterday I was wrestling with “wisdom” … Continue reading →

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Joseph’s Middle Passage

Posted on July 11, 2013 by PaulVK

LGBTQ Safety or Religions Liberty Last year the Ontario legislature mandated that all schools, religious or otherwise establish Gay-Straight Alliances, groups where gay students could gather to talk about their issues. This is an attempt to prevent bullying. The Roman … Continue reading →

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The Roadside Hookup That Changed the World

Posted on June 14, 2013 by PaulVK

How Do People Change? Last week we noted that in the movement to the Joseph story in the book of Genesis God’s overt interventionist tendencies seem to change. In Genesis 37 you don’t even find the words God or Yhwh … Continue reading →

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A God For Liars, Killers, and the Religiously Inept

Posted on June 6, 2013 by PaulVK

The Family Jacob Always Wanted Perhaps the wisdom of parents telling their children “I love you all the same” wasn’t invented by the time of the Patriarchs. Polygamy certainly complicated the matter “this mommy loves you, that mommy hates you.” … Continue reading →

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Would you rather have a redemptive story of significance or immunity from loss?

Posted on June 1, 2013 by PaulVK

Immunity from Loss or Significance?  If God were to come to you and offer you either immunity from loss or a significant life for circles broader than your relational or familial networks, which would you choose? Bethel Blessings God meets Jacob … Continue reading →

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Clean Narratives and the Rape of Dinah

Posted on May 24, 2013 by PaulVK

Politics on Facebook My Facebook news-feed is predictable. _______________ has posts with mocking pictures of President Obama, portraying him as a lying, corrupt, inept yet crafty leader who is destroying the country. _________________ has posts that show the Republicans to … Continue reading →

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Dropping the Idols and Not Letting Go Until He Blesses You

Posted on May 9, 2013 by PaulVK

Grabbing for Glory Last week  we talked about Jacob reaching after the glory of the things around him that attracted him and how through power we cannot attain glory. Last week I also was pointed to a terrific speech given by … Continue reading →

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