-
The Pivot: But You Will Not Cross Over
Sometimes our role is simply to look ahead with joy, prepare the ground, and beautifully pass the torch to the generation coming up behind us. Moses stood on Mount Nebo and saw the land toward which he had spent forty years leading Israel. He could see the promise ahead, but he would not cross over into… Continue reading
-
Choose Again
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15 Some choices are so small we barely notice making them. What to wear. What to eat. Which way to drive. Whether to answer… Continue reading
-
Attention Students: An Important Discovery
Big Buts of the Bible continues publishing after Mondays. Apparently Big Buts of the Bible is still here on Tuesdays. And through the rest of the week. I had no idea. For some time, I have assumed my Monday scholarly contributions represented the principal intellectual work occurring here. This seemed reasonable. Monday is, after all,… Continue reading
-
The God Who Cannot Be Contained
“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” —1 Kings 8:27 It must have been breathtaking. After years of planning and construction, Solomon’s Temple was complete. This was the magnificent house David had dreamed of building for the Lord, and… Continue reading
-
But Listen
An excerpt from Chapter 11. Jesus turned to the crowd and began talking about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” He asked. What was it about John that drew such crowds? Was it simply that he was unusual? After all, his clothing, his diet, and the certainty with which he… Continue reading
-
A Little Relief
“But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us…”—Ezra 9:8–9 I… Continue reading
-
Proverbial But O’ the Week: Discernment
Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, BUT a fool exposes his folly. (Proverbs 13:16) Wisdom rarely needs to announce itself. It listens, learns, considers what is true, and then chooses its response accordingly. But foolishness has a way of rushing into the room before understanding arrives—speaking too quickly, reacting too strongly, assuming too much, and unintentionally revealing what… Continue reading
Darin Michael Shaw
In addition to being the world’s foremost expert on the conjunction but, author and freelance writer Darin Michael Shaw (he/him/his) identifies as a post-evangelical, free-range Jesus Freak, taking Jesus seriously when he says, “Follow me,” while inviting others to come and see for yourself.
Big Buts of the Bible 