Bruce Waltke, in his brilliant Genesis commentary, points out that “the account of Jacob” from 37:2–50:26, the final toledot of Genesis, maps God’s unifying of Abraham’s line. Here God makes Abraham’s family “worthy covenant partners” (p.191) via two unlikely heroes: Joseph and Judah. Reuben was firstborn, but unworthy of his position. So, God replaced him...
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I remember a bad experience I had when making an insurance claim for my mother-in-law. While shopping in a grocery store, she accidentally stepped on a slippery floor that was not properly guarded and injured herself. Speaking with the insurance agent on the phone was a nightmare. The agent seemed to be more interested in...
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FIRE, standing for “Financial Independence, Retire Early,” has risen in popularity, especially among younger adults. The idea is that achieving financial independence quickly leads to a happier life, as it enables us to spend the rest of our life not needing to work. I get it. I remember one day when my wife Esther and...
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What is Christmas? Thousands of words have been written, hundreds of songs sung—the centuries are full of hope, longing for the day when all sad things will become untrue, Tolkiens’ words speaking for everyone everywhere. In a world where Fate is the first and last word, where things are as they are because they always...
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Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” This past weekend I was in Houston, the vastness of Texas constrained in one metropolis that goes on and on… together with good people from all over America and the world. For several days we had deep conversations about things that matter to all of...
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One Saturday early morning, after dropping my wife Esther at her work on Burrard St. in downtown Vancouver, I headed to the nearby Thierry coffee shop. As part of my Saturday morning routine, I ordered an americano and French croissant and was enjoying the time of reading and reflecting for the day. That morning, I...
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