by Barry Creamer | Jun 28, 2023 | Devotionals
In the past week, about 1,800 miles of pavement make its way under my truck’s wheels. The ubiquitous white stripes beloved by would-be passers flash staccato disruptions in my peripheral vision practically every part of every longitudinal mile—from Dallas to Oklahoma...
by Barry Creamer | Jun 21, 2023 | Devotionals
As an undergraduate, I learned from John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14 just how daunting, beautiful, provocative, and comforting poetry can be. The prayer-in-verse is below. Below that, for those who want it, is a paraphrase—not to touch its boundless nuances, but to bridge...
by Daisy Reynolds | Jun 21, 2023
This second episode of our series about real change has something for everyone: gnats, hermeneutics, corn shucking, and camels. Barry provides a few more instances of the ways in which we pitch our tent on the bridge instead of crossing over where love of God and...
by Daisy Reynolds | Jun 14, 2023
Barry begins a series about real change and how sometimes we stop short of it: instead of crossing a bridge, we pitch our tents in the middle. In this episode he lays that groundwork by citing some real-life (and real embarrassing) examples of this very thing in our...
by Barry Creamer | Jun 14, 2023 | Devotionals
Some things are hard to believe. Isaiah prophesies that the powerful kingdoms harassing Judah from the north will be overturned within a generation. All Ahaz needs is faith: “If you do not establish your faith, you will not be established” (Isaiah 7:9b). Knowing...
by Daisy Reynolds | Jun 7, 2023
Barry covers Psalm 51 in part two of our series on David’s (the man after God’s heart) most famous failures. In this song he points out the insanely good deal we are offered (good news): we beg for mercy, and God gives it, and transformation. Our only requirement:...
by Barry Creamer | Jun 7, 2023 | Devotionals
A genealogy culminating in Noah and his sons as the new hope for mankind is about its progenitor: Adam. “This is the book of the genealogy of Adam” (Genesis 5:1). A lineage arriving at the world divided in Babel is about its progenitors: Noah and his sons. “Now this...
by Barry Creamer | May 31, 2023 | Devotionals
Is a demon involved when something bad happens? Many of the people Jesus restores from physical and spiritual infirmities are oppressed by demons (e.g., Matthew 12:23, Matthew 8:23ff). Satan tempts Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), and Jesus warns Peter that the adversary...
by Daisy Reynolds | May 31, 2023
Barry starts a new series on King David’s famous failures and points out aspects of those failures that we commit regularly. Psalm 50 reminds us that while we prefer a talisman what we really need is a Judge whose mercy is as unlimited as his power. ...
by Daisy Reynolds | May 26, 2023
Barry finishes up a 2-part series about gun violence and gun control. The focus, as always is a way to get at a thoughtful and measured conversation, where we hear concerns from the other side, and come up with compromises that make things better, and hopefully make...
