I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I…
Month: August 2021
There is One Sin
“There is one sin: to call a green leaf grey, Whereat the sun in heaven shuddereth.” — G.K. Chesterton This quote was cited by Lynn Anderson in his book Talking Back to God, as he described walking through his cancer diagnosis and the accompanying ‘dark night of the soul.’ When I read it, it leaped…
The Experiment (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)
I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at…
Lifeway Research on ‘Shrinking Donors’
Lifeway Research has recently contributed to the commentary on stewardship and generosity with a report that cites research conducted by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The report echos what others have been stating all summer, chiefly that the pool of givers to religious organizations is dwindling. How is it, then, that in the face…
Praying for Our Schools
Tonight I will participate in a nondenominational prayer gathering led by my wife at her elementary school. It is organized by Inspire Our Schools.org. I am grateful that our central Iowa school districts are willing to allow volunteers come to school campuses to surround the buildings with prayer for the new school year. I have…
The Struggle is Real (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)
I have always identified with Paul’s honest self evaluation recorded at the end of Romans 7 (7:21-25). Like Qoheleth, Paul wrote in first person about his experience and struggle as he attempted to reconcile his inner world and outer world. There, he spoke of his search for meaning and his struggle with moral victory. As…
Preaching from Ecclesiastes
Saving Private Ryan was released in 1998, featuring Tom Hanks as Captain Miller. In the movie, Captain Miller is charged with the responsibility of finding paratrooper Private James Ryan and returning him to his family who had already lost three sons during World War 2. The movie, which won seven Academy Awards, invests several minutes…
Life on the Treadmill (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)
Over 60 million Americans own a treadmill, making it the single most popular piece of home exercise equipment. People continue to purchase treadmills because of their flexibility (you can change speed or incline) and convenience. My wife and I own one, and she actually uses it to walk and run. I’ve often reflected on the…
Introduction to Ecclesiastes
For the first 18 centuries, Old Testament scholars have attributed the authorship of Ecclesiastes to Solomon. This was based on the allusions of verses 1:1 and 1:16, where the writer claims he is “King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem,” and that he was “wiser than any of the kings in Jerusalem before” him. Since…
The 2020 Giving USA Report
Americans are incredibly blessed. Those in our nation who are age 60 and above average $800,000 in personal assets. In the coming years our nation will see the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world as over $33 trillion will pass from one generation to their designated beneficiaries. The 2020 Giving USA…