Why I Said “No” to Ghostwriting

ethics, writing

Once upon a time, early on in my academic and writing career, I was invited to ghostwrite for a best-selling author (who shall remain anonymous). I recall my initial shock at the request, because in my naïveté I had no idea that there was any such thing as a...

Modeling Thanksgiving

ethics, exegesis/exposition, gratitude

When we read the Apostle Paul’s prayers in his letters we can learn quite a bit about what he was thankful for. While Galatians is unique among Paul’s early letters, in that it does not include any specific prayer, most of his other epistles include prayers on behalf...

The Tithing Myth

ecclesiology, ethics, finances

I recall once visiting a church, and on that morning the pastor said, “If you don’t tithe before you pay your electric bill, then you are sinning against God.” As I eagerly awaited the Biblical evidence, not surprisingly he produced none. On the contrary, a simple...

Paying God Back Is A Bad Idea

ethics, grace

He was a man’s man. He was a fighter with a checkered past. He was kicked out of his family’s home by his half-brothers because he was not the son of their mother, and they wanted him to have no part in the family inheritance. He became a thug, associating with other...