Why Did They Turn to Idolatry? | Part One

Patience

One of my responsibilities at my day job is to train employees in our software tools.

As I was doing this last Friday, we had to wait for what I sarcastically refer to as the “spinning circle of death” to load the page we needed.

At one point, I stopped the trainee I was working with from clicking the link again by pointing out the circle was still spinning and stating we needed to be patient for the computer to finish processing.

They immediately looked at me with a big grin and said, “Patience is not one of my virtues.”

I laughingly replied, “So this is why we have so many technical issues during your training. Clearly, God is helping you grow in this virtue.”

Why am I sharing this jesting about the need for patience?

And what does it have to do with this post’s title, “Why Did They Turn to Idolatry?”

Continue reading “Why Did They Turn to Idolatry? | Part One”

Are You Ready to Start a New Year?

Last week, my husband was a camera operator for our church’s evening Christmas Eve service.

Because of this, we arrived about an hour before the service began.

I planned to meditate on scripture while I waited for the service to start.

However, upon entering the sanctuary, I met a friend who had signed up to usher for the first time and began asking me if I knew what he was supposed to do.

Shortly after, another friend who was ushering arrived and asked me if I thought they should light the altar candles this early or wait.

Next, two of our facilities team approached, talked about some things they had cleaned because of earlier services, and asked me if they should bring out the individual candles to hand out to worshippers since people had already arrived to get a good seat.

If you read last week’s post, you know this experience of “ask Barbara” is not an unusual phenomenon for me.

So how did I respond to all these questions?

And what does it have to do with being ready to start a new year?

Most importantly, what does it have to do with studying the Bible?

Continue reading “Are You Ready to Start a New Year?”

Who is Really in Charge?

In 2022, during the holiday season, before I signed off at my day job for several days of vacation, I emailed my coworkers with the subject line “Ask Barbara Not an Option.”

Why did I do this?

First, I did it to be funny.

Second, I would travel by car for my vacation and would have extremely limited time or access to internet service.

But also, having started working as the receptionist and eventually becoming the office manager, I get asked many questions throughout the workweek in my job.

Thus, from the day I started working at my current employer, I have regularly interacted with every single department. Thus, I know many details about many things.

But this does not mean I am the one in charge at work.

What does any of this have to do with Luke 2:1-7?

Continue reading “Who is Really in Charge?”

You Are Highly Favored | Luke 1:26-38

How would you respond to someone greeting you with the statement, “You are highly favored?”

Excited?

Suspicious?

Justified?

Would your answer change if the statement came privately?

It is one thing to have a fellow human make this type of statement to us, regardless of the motive behind it.

But what about when an angel from God speaks to you this way?

Continue reading “You Are Highly Favored | Luke 1:26-38”

From Genealogies to Dreams: Obeying God | Matthew 1:18-25

The first chapter of the gospel of Matthew surprisingly starts with a genealogy.

After fifteen verses about who fathered what son and after mentioning a few unexpected mothers, we get verse sixteen:

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. [1]

Verse seventeen then summarizes the royal genealogical record Matthew highlighted, reinforcing his opening verse statement that Jesus Christ is officially part of the promises made to Abraham back in Genesis and King David in 2 Samuel.

Then, Matthew explains the mystery of why he did not call Joseph the father of Jesus Christ.

Continue reading “From Genealogies to Dreams: Obeying God | Matthew 1:18-25”

The Genealogy of Christ | Matthew 1

Do you like genealogical research?

Most of the time my answer would be not really.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of genealogical research.

And I am glad others take the time to do this type of research.

It just is not something I feel drawn to pursue for myself.

But the Bible contains several genealogical lists that intrigue me.

For example, the Gospel of Matthew opens with a genealogy of Christ.

What can we learn from this odd way to open a book about Christ?

Continue reading “The Genealogy of Christ | Matthew 1”

Remembering to Give Thanks | Exodus 32:1-8

thanks

Why is it important to remember to give thanks?

Looking up the word thanks led me to the word gratitude.

In turn, looking up the word gratitude led me to the word grateful.

The definition of grateful then led me back to the words gratitude and thanks.

Oh, the fun of the English language.

Seriously, why is it important to remember to give thanks, express gratitude, and be grateful?

And what does this have to do with Exodus 32:1-8?

Continue reading “Remembering to Give Thanks | Exodus 32:1-8”

Fueling the Worship Response

fuel

What is your first thought when you think about fuel?

Gasoline or electricity is a typical fuel that enables vehicles to get us from point to point.

Wood is an excellent fuel for a campfire.

Physically, we use food as fuel to nourish and sustain our bodies.

But there are other fuels to consider.

For example, Exodus 12:27 ends with the phrase, “And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”

What fueled this worship response?

Continue reading “Fueling the Worship Response”

Why Do People Worship God? |Exodus 4:31 | Part Two

I’m back!

In Why Do People Worship God? | Exodus 4:31 | Part One, we considered the primary and secondary definitions of both the word worship and God using Merriam-Webster.com.

We then reviewed how the stage was set in Genesis 15:12-14 and how the plot developed from Genesis 41:41-43 through Exodus 4:17 before the people in Exodus 4:31 responded to the news Moses and Aaron presented to them by worshipping God.

Today, we will continue our study of Exodus 4, seeking to gain insight into why people worship God.

Continue reading “Why Do People Worship God? |Exodus 4:31 | Part Two”