“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV) When I first obeyed the gospel, my mother’s first emotion was not... Continue Reading →
Who Is Jesus? in the Gospel of John.
Papyrus P52 (Rylands Library Papyrus P52), containing John 18.31-33 and 37-38. John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester. Public Domain image courtesy of the University of Manchester. Who Is Jesus? in the Gospel of John grows out of my ongoing work, The Messiah in the Margins, a project that traces how the Hebrew Scriptures whisper,... Continue Reading →
Faithful Small Things: On Grace, Boundaries, and Ordinary Holiness
The Angelus by Jean-François Millet, c. 1857-1859. Musée d’Orsay, Paris. “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12.11, ESV) On Generational Patterns and Personal Responsibility: Our parents gave us their best, and inevitably, they passed along their struggles. This is the human condition: we inherit... Continue Reading →
Myths and Mything Links
For years, people have repeated the claim that caffeine dehydrates you. The reasoning seems straightforward: caffeine is a diuretic, so coffee or tea must leave you drier than before. This myth has become common knowledge, even though research tells a different story. Caffeine does have a mild diuretic effect, particularly in those unaccustomed to it.... Continue Reading →
Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works
Caravaggio. Basket of Fruit. c. 1599. Oil on canvas. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan. You bear God’s image and share His Spirit. You were made alive for His work, not just working to protect an image. That is the order the Bible gives us. “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed... Continue Reading →
Phillip W. Martin 