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DAILY READING Psalm 4; Acts 3:1-10; Luke 22:24-30 FIELD NOTES In C.S. Lewis’s famous children’s novel, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” the four Pevensie children are told that one day the fabled land of Narnia will be ruled over by four benevolent, human kings. It turns out that the children will become those…

DAILY READING Psalm 4; Daniel 10:2-19; 1 John 2:26-28 FIELD NOTES  “Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee” Words by Charles Wesley, 1749 Jesus, Lord, we look to thee;let us in thy name agree;show thyself the Prince of Peace,bid our strife forever cease. By thy reconciling loveevery stumbling block remove;each to each unite, endear;come, and spread…

DAILY READING Psalm 4; Daniel 9:1-19; 1 John 2:18-25 FIELD NOTES While the “antichrist” is sometimes associated with apocalyptic literature in the Bible (such as in the book of Revelation), here in 1 John 2:18-25, the writer is specifically talking about false teachers—literally, those who deny Christ. How does a Christian know what is good…

DAILY READING Psalm 135; Isaiah 26:1-15; Mark 12:18-27 FIELD NOTES How could a person die and then rise again? For skeptics, this is the crucial question of Christianity. Of course, resurrection can’t be proven by logical means—it is a mystery to be accepted by faith. This question of resurrection is older, however, than even Christianity.…

DAILY READING Psalm 135; Daniel 6:1-28; 1 John 2:12-17 FIELD NOTES What songs do you remember from your childhood?  Most children learn nursery rhymes and songs like “London Bridge is Falling Down” or “Itsy Bitsy Little Spider” at a very early age. Even for adults who haven’t heard or sung these songs in years, they…

DAILY READING Psalm 135; Daniel 3:1-30; 1 John 2:3-11 FIELD NOTES Are we saved by grace, or are we saved by works? This theological question has been around a long time and is as important today as ever. The Reformation seemed to clear this up for us. Luther was certain: the church stands or falls…

DAILY READING Luke 6:43-45 FIELD NOTES The CEB translation of the passage today says, “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what…

DAILY READING Revelation 3:1-6 FIELD NOTES It’s a harsh word that God delivers to John about the church in Sardis- a church that appears alive, but is indeed dead.  The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature.  This means that while it shows us the “end times,” it creates for us an eschatology, a theology of end times, and knowing…

DAILY READING Revelation 2:8-11 FIELD NOTES Scrolling through the news for even a minute reminds us of the brokenness of the world. Today’s passage in Revelation of the church in Smyrna serves as a reminder that even in the midst of great strife or uncertainty, we must remain strong in our faith in Jesus Christ.  We…