Why “The Garden Weekly?”
I’ve never really explained it, and I can understand why it may seem like a name more in line with a gardening magazine to some...
Letter Intros
Intros from the weekly letters
A Lament for the Uvalde, Texas Shooting
A few days ago, an elementary school in Texas was attacked by a young man with a gun...
Humility and the Fear of the Lord
While the dictionary may define “humility” as a low view of one’s importance, that’s not quite the Biblical view of humility.
One Year of Ministry and a Surprise
This issue celebrates the one-year anniversary of The Garden Weekly. This newsletter started with Issue #1 on April 2, 2021 with an Easter issue. At the time, I wasn't quite sure what TGW should or would be. It's hard to believe that one year along, more
God Frees His People Through the Water
To the unbeliever (and many Christians!) baptism can seem quite odd. What purpose could dunking someone underwater really serve besides a quick bath?
Bible Study: Psalm 2 — Kiss the Son
In Psalm 2, an anointed one inherits the earth in response to humanity's rebellion against God. Who is this anointed one? And what does it mean for us?
Bible Study: Hebrews Part 5 (1:4–6) — The Firstborn Son
Jesus is the firstborn, begotten, son. But what does that mean? Was Jesus created? Was Jesus born of reproduction?
Bible Study: Hebrews Part 4 (1:2b–3) — The Worthy Son
God has spoken through a son, but who is this son?
Bible Study: Hebrews Part 3 (1:1–1:2a) — God Speaks, Are You Listening?
We open our study of the text of Hebrews by looking at how God speaks to prophets compared with how God speaks through a Son...
Bible Study: Hebrews Part 2 — Structure
What can the outline and structure of Hebrews tell us about the message of this letter?
Bible Study: Hebrews Part 1 — Introduction
Starting our study of Hebrews, let's look at who wrote it, why, and to whom...
Themes of Jonah Part 5: Love Your Enemies, Jonah!
What is Jonah's deal? Why is he always trying to do the opposite of what God is telling him to do?
The Importance and Danger of Ritual and Liturgy
What is liturgy? Why isn't it as common in modern western Christianity? And what can we recover from liturgy that we are missing?
Themes of Jonah, Part 4: Why Do You Hide, Jonah?
Jonah runs away from God, but how do we hide from God today?
Themes of Jonah, Part 3: Change Your Mind, Jonah!
Why is it so hard to change our minds?
Themes of Jonah, Part 2: Jonah and the Big Fish
Everyone knows Jonah is swallowed by a big fish. But what if there's more to the story?
Themes of Jonah, Part 1: Get Up Jonah! Jonah Went Down.
The book of Jonah is very short, but I believe that it is one of the greatest pieces of writing in scripture...
How to Help Afghans and Haitians
There have been several tragedies in the world...
Athanasius and the Proof of the Resurrection through Christian Fearlessness
Recently I read St. Athanasius’ On the Incarnation 📚. Athanasius was a bishop...
Themes of Ruth, Part 6: The Providence of God
In this last part of this series of themes of Ruth, I want to explore the theme of the providence of God...
Themes of Ruth, Part 5: A Genealogy of Foreigners
The book of Ruth ends in a similar way that the books of Matthew...
Themes of Ruth, Part 4: Boaz’s Wisdom
The book of Ruth speaks of Boaz as a “worthy man” (Ruth 2:1, ESV). This word in Hebrew is gibbor...
Themes of Ruth, Part 3: Redemption
Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s father-in-law, and this means he has the ability...
Themes of Ruth, Part 2: Love Begets Love
In the first part of Ruth, we meet Naomi. She has faced great hardship. She has followed the lead of her...
Themes of Ruth, Part 1: Covenant Loyalty
An important part of Ruth is hesed, covenant loyalty, or loyal love...
Use The Single Life
Many American churches promote marriage as the best, and often sole, answer...
The Wise One Follows God’s Commands
Is it wise to follow God's commands?
God, Give Us Discomfort
The broad evangelical movement, especially in America...
Lament and The Labor-Pains of New Creation
Lament is an important part of the Christian life. Scripture testifies to the importance of lament in books like Lamentations and the Psalms. But while there are no lament songs or explicit poems in the New Testament...
Politics and the Pulpit
In the American context, the separation of church and state means that the American government cannot sponsor...
Lamentations and Hope
Not many verses in the book of Lamentations are famous; these are: Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope...
The Christian Witness to Misery
One thing, however, is sure: unless Christians fulfill their prophetic role, unless they become the advocates and defenders of the truly poor...
Holding to Truth
It does not matter whether 50,000 espouse its cause, or only five, or only one...
Lament for a Pandemic
As of my writing of this letter, there have been over 18,000 deaths in my state, 580,000 deaths in my country, and 3.1 million deaths worldwide...
Thinking of the Cross
As I was going through my study of Matthew 27 (Jesus’ crucifixion), I came upon this quote. As we start this letter, I invite you to slow down...
Questioning God
In a weekly Bible study, we have been working through the Gospel of Matthew. We recently studied Matthew 26 and the Garden of Gethsemane...
On Disagreement
This letter is not designed to make you feel comfortable. It is designed to pull you in new directions. I hope that some content inspires you and helps you feel closer to our Creator...