Tag: JOHN D. BARRY

  • NEON GODS

    Connect The TestamentsLeviticus 26-27; John 10:22-42; Song of Solomon 8:10-14 Idolatry seems archaic. Who worships idols anymore? We all know that in other countries, traditional idol worship of gold and wooden statues still goes on, but we often forget about our own idols. What does all our furniture point toward? Why do we care who…

  • THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

    Connect The TestamentsLeviticus 15-16; John 9:1-12; Song of Solomon 7:5-9 When it comes to the cost of sin, the average person probably thinks in terms of “What can I get away with?” rather than “What does this cost me and other people emotionally?” These calculations aren’t made in terms of life and death, but that…

  • GRACE AMONG THE GRAPHIC

    Connect The TestamentsLeviticus 9-11; John 7:53-8:11; Song of Solomon 6:6-10 “Then he slaughtered the burnt offering, and Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, and he sprinkled it on the altar all around; and they brought the burnt offering to him by its pieces, as well as the head, and he burned them on the…

  • ANCIENT WORDS, FUTURE HOPE

    Connect The TestamentsLeviticus 4:1-6:30; John 7:14-44; Song of Solomon 5:13-16 Atonement is appealing because we all have relationships we wish we could reconcile. The 12-step program involves forgiving and forging renewed relationships when possible. But the story with God is different. There’s an acute awareness that we can’t fix things with our Creator; we need…

  • DWELLING IN THE WILDERNESS

    Connect The TestamentsLeviticus 1-3; John 7:1-13; Song of Solomon 6:1-5 The book of Leviticus can feel distant, abstract, and even absurd. Its opening chapters discuss odd offerings made at the tent of meeting, where God met His people when they were wandering in the wilderness after the exodus. Yet, the book signals an appreciation for…

  • WIT, WORDPLAY AND EUPHEMISM

    Connect The TestamentsExodus 37-38; John 6:25-51; Song of Solomon 5:1-4 The Bible is a passionate book. It’s about a God who is impassioned for His people and who ultimately sends His Son to die for them so that they can be saved from themselves. And it also portrays the passion seen in romantic love. Song…

  • WHEN THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED

    Connect The TestamentsExodus 33-34; John 6:1-14; Song of Solomon 4:9-13 I live in the world of projects. There are a few things I know for certain about them, aside from all requiring a budget and a schedule to have any hope of success. They will all take more time than I expect (at least 25…

  • THE SYSTEM

    Connect The TestamentsExodus 30-32; John 5:31-47; Song of Solomon 4:4-8 Religion is a tough subject. Jesus staunchly opposed religion for religion’s sake, yet He was a Law-abiding Jew. He recognized the value of worship, community, and discipleship, but not the value of religious constraints: religion can bind someone in tradition and be used for oppression.…

  • BREAD FROM HEAVEN AND WATER FROM A ROCK

    Connect The TestamentsExodus 16-18; John 3:22-36; Song of Solomon 2:8-13 For many years, I said that I believed God would provide for me, but I’m not sure I actually did. Somewhere inside I was still convinced that I was on my own. It wasn’t until recently that I felt convicted about this, and God began…

  • WHY DOES GOD PUNISH PEOPLE?

    Connect The Testaments In regard to why a good God would punish people, I recently heard one homeless man wisely tell another, “You wouldn’t want to live in a world where God didn’t punish injustices and just freely forgave sin—without any request for someone to choose the salvation He offers back. Imagine a place where…