Woe to Imperialism

March 21, 2011

Yesterday my Bible class at Woodmont Hills encountered the prophet Habakkuk’s condemnation of imperialism in chapter 2:6-20. In the wake of the United States’ entrance into another war (making it three current ones), I was struck with how relevant the prophet is. [My handouts for this class on Habakkuk are available here.] The section is headed […]


The Apocalyptic Struggle: A Series on Revelation 4-16 (2)

August 12, 2009

The Apocalypse’s second vision (Revelation 4-16) has a well-defined literary structure. The structure shapes the plot and progression of the drama’s movement.  Below is a way of picturing this structural development: The Heavenly Throne Room: The Sealed Scroll is Seized (4-5) The Seven Seals are Opened (6:1-8:1) The Seven Trumpets Herald the Opening of the Scroll (8:1-11:19) […]


New Book Announcement

April 6, 2006

Kingdom Come: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James A. Harding is the title of a new release by Leafwood Press, a division of ACU Press. It is due out in May 2006. Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks are the authors. “Many assume that Churches of Christ views 1930-1960 were those of […]


Zwingli: Bible and Sword

March 21, 2006

The Zwingli Statue in Zurich 


Sword Talk

March 21, 2006

Two swords are enough. Really? Not! This enigmatic statement by Jesus in Luke 22:38 has created some stir in the history of Christian thought. Some have even allegorized it to mean that Christians carry two swords—the word of God (Scripture) and the state weaponry (real swords). I’m reminded of the statue of Zwingli in Zurich […]