CUE THE FRENCH HORNS. Cue the starfield background. Cue the commanding male voice-over: “Bread … the boring frontier.” With apologies to fellow Star Trek fans, I think they would agree, bread is a rather uninteresting subject. Every country, every culture uses grain products. And in most of those cultures, I would venture to say that…
Author: Curtis L. Mattson
Reborn or Just Renovated?
BORN AGAIN … such an overused and misused word in recent years. From politics to moisturizing creams to rock bands, this term with such biblical richness has become tawdry and tattered. When Jesus spoke to the pharisee Nicodemus, telling him he must be “born again” to see the kingdom of God (John 3), Nicodemus’ response…
Is It Rotating or Revolving?
Each time we turn the calendar on a new year, we hope for a new start. Some years are worse than others, either personally or for the whole world. This is obviously one of those ‘worse than others’ years. Which Calendar Does God Use? Now, is it revolving on its axis and rotating around the…
Naked Before the Foe
NEWS STORIES THESE DAYS often feature two unwelcome images: one is healthcare workers armed with masks, gowns, and face shields. The other is law enforcement officers armed with helmets, body armor, and riot shields. Figures attempting to arm themselves against unseen viruses. Figures attempting to arm themselves against bullets, bottles, and rocks. Still Naked Underneath…
Blood from the Beginning
ONE OF THE ELEMENTS that flows through every living thing in creation and becomes one of the earliest symbols in the Bible is blood. In fact, it is so prevalent I hesitate to call it a metaphor for fear that that may belittle it. That is, some may think of a metaphor as just a…
Enough Good Metaphors to Go Around
IN THIS TIME OF FEAR of shortages, there is one thing we will never run out of—a supply of biblical images of God. So, we should never need to make up our own man-made images of the true God. Now, I am going to try my best to be completely positive on this entire blog…
Different Strokes for Different Folks
IMAGINE A PAINTING made up of only one large brushstroke. Rather boring? Sort of meaningless? Okay, then how about two strokes? Maybe three? Still not doing it for you? Okay, how many brushstrokes does a painted image need to convey an understandable, reliable meaning? I think everyone would agree that the more strokes, the more…
Green Thumbs in the Bible
EVERYONE LOVES A GARDEN. I, for one, am waiting for the winter to wane and the coronavirus to pass over to get restarted on mine. Some love the work it takes to make a beautiful garden, and others just love the results. But either way, everybody knows how difficult gardens are to grow and maintain.…