On Tuesdays, I scour Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament words to find some extra insight into the biblical text. Today’s word is “heavy,” or “to be/to make something heavy.” In the Hebrew Old Testament text, “heavy” (kabed) means “to honor.” This is an interesting Jewish idiom that we use today. WhenContinue reading “Text Tuesday: (Be, Make) Heavy”
Author Archives: joeskillen
Technique Thursday: Work + Rest
I saw this talk over the relationship between work + rest that I have been trying to implement into my work routine. I thought I’d share the gist on Technique Thursday. This technique simply tries to get the most out of our work by planning rest periods. I try to follow this basic formula: StressContinue reading “Technique Thursday: Work + Rest”
Wright or Willard Wednesday: Jesus’ Appearing
Each Wednesday, I’ll try to offer a short thought from a couple of my favorite sages: NT Wright and Dallas Willard. Today, a long quotation from Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy. In this quotation, Willard reveals how it was God’s plan to arrive among us through ordinary means: He slipped into our world through theContinue reading “Wright or Willard Wednesday: Jesus’ Appearing”
Text Tuesday: Enemy
Each Tuesday, I’ll try to text a word found in the Bible and draw some insight from it through some Hebrew and Greek study, using Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Today’s word: Enemy Both Old Testament words for enemy: verb (oyeeb) and noun (sar) give an underlying idea of “hate”Continue reading “Text Tuesday: Enemy”
Technique Thursday: The Flow
I came across an idea worth sharing. It’s helping me calibrate goals and tasks for life and ministry. It’s called “The Flow” and it takes into account the combination of our Skills and our Challenges. Think of Skills and Challenges on a grid: A growth flow happens when we are challenged at the same rateContinue reading “Technique Thursday: The Flow”
Wright or Willard on Wednesday: Do Not Be Afraid
NT Wright and Dallas Willard have shaped my Christian life for the majority of my Christian life now. They are sages leading the way ahead for me as a disciple and minister. I’ll share a bit from their work on Wednesdays. Here is a block quote from an older NT Wright source called Following Jesus:Continue reading “Wright or Willard on Wednesday: Do Not Be Afraid”
Text Tuesday: Woe
On Tuesdays, I’ll try to provide a bit of background on a biblical word using William Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Today’s word: woe. In the Old Testament, “woe” (Hebrew hoy) expresses personal pain and anguish because of the dread of a situation. Woe is also used to express anxietyContinue reading “Text Tuesday: Woe”
Beastie Boys and Discipleship
Yesterday, Ginger took our kids to a bargain store for some shopping and my oldest, Avery (daughter, 10) came home with a Beastie Boys shirt. And all of heaven and earth rejoiced! And all of God’s people said, “Mmm drop!” This morning, we were polishing off the typical Saturday morning donuts and listening to someContinue reading “Beastie Boys and Discipleship”
What Preachers Tell Us, Part 2… Brother Joe
The first pastor I remember was named Joe! Imagine that. He was a young seminary graduate from Texas who served our family’s American Baptist Church in Norwich, KS. I remember my dad enjoying his thoughtful sermons and sincere approach to talking about the Christian faith. He ministered at the church at about the time myContinue reading “What Preachers Tell Us, Part 2… Brother Joe”
What Preachers Tell Us… Intro
On Podcast episode 660 of NPR’s This American Life, author Shalom Auslander shared a true story called “The Blessing Bee.” As Auslander mentioned peculiar points of reference concerning his rabbinical training, he repeated a refrain that went something like this, “Rabbi _______ told us, That the Sages tell us, That the Torah tells us…” AuslanderContinue reading “What Preachers Tell Us… Intro”
Joe Skillen 