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But Even the Dogs …
An excerpt from Chapter 15. A Mother’s Faith The next scene is one of the most surprising—and, at first glance, one of the most uncomfortable—in all of Jesus’ ministry. A woman approaches Jesus crying, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Her daughter is suffering terribly under the oppression of a demon. Picture the scene.… Continue reading
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Planted
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.”—Psalm 1:1–2 I should probably begin with a confession. Plants come… Continue reading
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Proverbial But O’ the Week: Teachable
He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, BUT whoever heeds correction is honored. (Proverbs 13:18) Correction rarely feels like a gift when it arrives. Our first instinct may be to defend ourselves, explain ourselves, or quietly dismiss the person offering it. But Proverbs reminds us that wisdom isn’t found in never being wrong; it’s found in being… Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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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
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 