-
The Pivot: But Ruth …
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you… Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” Orpah leaves. Naomi tells Ruth to follow her, to return to her people and the life she has known. But Ruth… With those two words, the story pivots. Ruth chooses Naomi. She chooses Naomi’s people. And most importantly,… Continue reading
-
But God Remembered
There are three words at the beginning of Genesis 8 that may be among the most hopeful in the entire story of Noah: But God remembered. To feel their weight, we have to back up one sentence—the close of chapter seven. “The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.” And then: “But God remembered Noah and… Continue reading
-
ATTENTION READERS: What Is “That”?
Dr. Buttersworth Investigates One of Rock & Roll’s Most Unnecessary Mysteries Greetings, readers. Dr. Buttersworth here. From time to time, your good doctor is called upon to investigate mysteries extending beyond the usual boundaries of biblical conjunction scholarship. I do not seek these assignments. They find me. Today we turn our attention to one of… Continue reading
-
But Their Hearts Were Far From Me
There are passages of Scripture that invite us to wonder because they describe something spectacular—a sea divided, fire falling from heaven, a storm silenced with a word. Then there are passages that invite us to wonder because they turn our expectations upside down. First Corinthians 1:18–25 does the latter. And, fittingly enough, Paul uses three… Continue reading
-
Back to the Beginning
An excerpt from Chapter 19. One of the things I appreciate most about Jesus is that He rarely allowed people to keep the conversation where they wanted it. They wanted to debate. Jesus wanted to reveal the Father’s heart. That’s exactly what happens as Matthew 19 opens. The Pharisees approach Jesus with a question about… Continue reading
-
A Look in the Mirror
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the… Continue reading
-
Proverbial But O’ the Week: Integrity
He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, BUT he whose ways are devious despises him. (Proverbs 14:2) To fear the LORD is not simply to speak reverently about God. Proverbs says it becomes visible in the way we walk. An upright life grows from a heart that takes God seriously—choosing honesty, humility, faithfulness, 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.
