Author Archives: MikeB

The Lord Has Not Given You a Heart to Know (a look at Deut 29:4)

Posted on by
Reply

As we read through Deuteronomy we arrive at a challenging passage.

But to this very day the Lord has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears!  

Deut 29:4 (NET)

What makes it challenging?

Taking that passage literally, it says that God has not given the Israelites the ability to understand, perceive nor discern something. Further, He has been withholding the ability to understand it, whatever it might be, up to that very day.

Reading this, there are at least three questions that should immediately come to mind.

  • What is it that God is not giving the Israelites an ability to understand, perceive and discern?
  • Is this something the Israelites are only able to understand if God gives them an ability to perceive it?
  • What is the historical context of the day on which this is spoken and what has occurred before the statement is made?
Continue reading →

The Nature of Easter (a series of haiku)

Posted on by
Reply

The month of April is national poetry month and also when Easter generally falls. This year I wrote a set of haiku that primarily focused on the final week of Jesus’ life. The haiku is an unrhymed poetic form originating in Japan. In English it typically consists of 17 syllables arranged in a 5-7-5 pattern over three lines. The form generally uses nature as a topic and seeks to suggest ideas through contrast and double meaning.

Thirst sends one walking
More than some water is sought
From an ancient well

A straight path ahead
Branches waving wildly
There’s no turning back

A fruitless fig tree
Expectations are not met
It withers and dies

Lilies dot the field
Tranquility is shattered
White is colored red

A seed is planted
Earth holds what it can’t contain
From death comes much fruit

A buried seed sprouts
Sown it bursts forth in new life
Birds shall rest in shade

Sunlight breaks the dark
On a rock a dove alights
A new day has dawned

White as Snow

Posted on by
Reply

It is National Poetry Month, so I thought I would share some poems. This one was written last year during Easter. It uses an Arabic poetic form known as the ghazal.

White lilies cover the field as blanketing snow.
The women walk softly, silent as falling snow.

The rock that once covered the gate is set aside.
A figure comes forth bright as the glistening snow.

Fear not, the one you are looking for is not here.
The serpent’s plan is ruined, as dirt marring snow.

For into the pit, the grave swallowed a lion.
He endured death’s coldness that numbs as stinging snow.

The dead one now lives with eyes blazing like fire.
Hard hearts start to soften as the heat melting snow.

The Ancient One gives Him both glory and power
And praises roar as winds in a blizzarding snow