-
But the Counselor
One of the hardest parts of saying goodbye is wondering what comes next. The disciples were facing exactly that. For three years they had walked dusty roads with Jesus. They had listened to His teaching, watched Him heal the broken, calm storms, welcome outsiders, forgive sinners, and love people no one else seemed to notice.… Continue reading
-
Proverbial But O’ The Week: Steadfastness
He who works his land will have abundant food, BUT he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. (Proverbs 12:11) Working the ground beneath your feet rarely feels exciting, but it is where God most often grows lasting fruit. Chasing shortcuts and empty promises may sparkle for a moment, but faithful, everyday obedience is what produces a… Continue reading
-
The Pivot: But The More…
“So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor… But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread…” (Exodus 1:11–12) Some of the greatest pivots in Scripture don’t happen because circumstances improve. They happen because God is at work in the middle of circumstances that refuse to. Pharaoh had a… Continue reading
-
But When You Fast
When was the last time you heard someone talk about fasting? For many Christians, it’s the least familiar of the spiritual disciplines. We understand giving. Most of us have some sort of prayer life. But fasting often feels mysterious, intimidating, or perhaps even unnecessary. Yet Jesus spoke about it as though it were perfectly ordinary.… Continue reading
-
Attention Poetry Lovers: A Beautiful But
Students! Today’s lesson takes us out of grammar books and into the poetry section. Your old professor enjoys a well-crafted poem, particularly when the poet knows how to employ our favorite little conjunction. Today’s exhibit comes from Annie Johnson Flint (1866–1932), a prolific Christian poet and hymn writer. If you’ve never heard of her, you’re… Continue reading
-
But the Lord God Called
It is probably not going to be a good day in the garden when a snake strikes up a conversation with you. Genesis 3 introduces the serpent as crafty. He begins not with an outright denial, but with a question: “Did God really say…?” That is how deception often works. It introduces confusion where there… Continue reading
-
Lord of the Sabbath
An Excerpt from Chapter 12 Lord of the Sabbath The Hebrew word Sabbath simply means rest. Its story begins, appropriately enough, in Genesis—the book of beginnings. After completing the work of creation, God rested on the seventh day and set it apart as holy. Later, at Mount Sinai, He commanded Israel to observe the Sabbath as a regular… 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.
