Category Archives: On Faith

Apologetics, Theology, and Exposition

Gollum and the Great Secrets of the Darkness

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Mark

In The Lord of the Rings Tolkien offers a penetrating description of one of the principal lies the enemy uses to seduce us. In the second chapter of The Fellowship of Rings Gandalf explains to Frodo how Gollum came to … Continue reading →

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The Problem of Pain and Dementia

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Mark

In his book The Problem of Pain C. S. Lewis tries to reconcile human suffering with the existence of a good, loving, and omnipotent God. Lewis addresses what causes suffering and how God uses suffering. Lewis argues that pain is … Continue reading →

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How Long?

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Mark

“How long, O Lord” is all Teckla could get out before her tears made it impossible to read. She grabbed some Kleenex and started reading Psalm 13 again: How long O Lord? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long will … Continue reading →

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When You Don’t Understand, Stand

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Mark

Sometimes out of nowhere, it seems, a Bible verse strikes my heart like an arrow shot from God’s bow. This recently happened with a phrase from Ephesians 6:13: “and having done everything, to stand firm.” Often the cry of my … Continue reading →

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God’s Still, Small Voice

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Mark

It has been a year since Peter died. No waves of grief swept over me on this melancholy anniversary, only mild surprise that a year had passed. Perhaps I am numb from all the other losses. When grief is piled … Continue reading →

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Glory

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Mark

Recently, I preached badly on the hope of glory. No matter how many analogies or metaphors I grabbed, none seemed to communicate the power and joy of sharing God’s glory. It felt like I was trying to kindle a fire … Continue reading →

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This Too is a Gift

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Mark

Sometimes, most times, I leave the place of prayer feeling empty. I leave having not felt the presence of God and having not heard his voice. For several reasons I am reluctant to say this out loud. First, such a … Continue reading →

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Kicking Job Out of Church

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Mark

I am convinced that anyone who speaks and acts like Job would be kicked out of most churches today—even those, perhaps especially those, that proclaim the Bible their authority. They might be right to do so. He certainly is someone … Continue reading →

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Ari and Dead People

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Mark

Ari has now been church enough to hear about the resurrection, but most of his questions come from visits to his Dad’s grave. Near Peter’s grave are the graves of my brother, Stanley, and my mother and father. Our hunt … Continue reading →

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A Believing Wife

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Mark

Teckla caught me writing this and said, “I am not worth writing about.” I will write about her anyway because there was a scene in the video series The Chosen that perfectly expressed why I love her so much and … Continue reading →

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