The Eclipse

The moon, a relatively small, spherical rock, makes its appointed monthly rounds, circling the earth. But this time, catastrophe accompanies it.

God of the Compost, Part 3

The Miracle of Fermentation

A process, parallel to that of composting, takes place in the production of another near-miraculous substance– one held in much higher regard than compost– wine. While the growing of grapes (and any other fruit for that matter) stands as a worthy story in its own right, the transformation of fresh grape juice into the remarkable liquid sought by both prince and poet is astounding.

Arc of Mystery

On a warm, still, fall afternoon in the early 1990s, I emerged from our house onto the side porch which faced the western sky. I can't recall where I headed, or to what end, but I was determined to accomplish some personal agenda. In my rush to leave the house, something derailed my attention and I stopped, pausing for a moment on the porch.

Separation

Sin? No one "sins" these days, or has "sin" in them. We have dumped "sin" into the ashcan of obsolete English words. We may possess "weaknesses," and we may "make mistakes" (it amuses me when I hear the popular "I mis-spoke" used seriously in public discourse), but "sin?"– what kind of Neanderthal creature would use such an archaic, judgmental, and demeaning word?

Two Like Three?

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."   (Genesis 1:26, NASB)

A first-time reading (or hearing) of this narrative can easily give one pause, and perhaps prompt the unsettling thought– "Did I read that right?

Tale of Two Miracles

There is the dark, hidden, and mysterious miracle— one done out of sight, beyond prying eyes, in the "black box." And then, there is the more astounding miracle— one done in plain sight, before the eyes of the skeptic, in the glare of the noonday sun.