Is God Too Busy for Us?

Gift-giving, though a big part of the holiday season, can get mired in a lot of debate. But beneath all the hoopla, there’s something about a thoughtful gift that touches the heart. A good present shows that the giver truly understands and cares about the recipient—like the giant carton of goldfish crackers my husband, Darren, gave me for my birthday this year. Some might call that a gifting faux pas, but because I really, really like goldfish crackers, it was perfect because I knew Darren understood me.

I asked some other RTB staff members to recall memorable (in a good way) gifts they’ve received over the years.

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Reasons to Believe in the Season

When the Christmas budget (for some) is virtually zilch and perhaps hearts are heavy over missing a loved one, it’s easy to lose sight of the “reason for the season,” so to speak. Yet often it’s in the difficult times that believers gain deeper insight into the truth of God’s character and care for us.

 

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

Snow White seems to be Hollywood’s fantasy heroine of choice this year. Last Friday (June 1) brought Snow White and the Huntsman, the second Snow White film of 2012, to theatres. As a fan of Walt Disney’s version of this fairytale princess, I’m looking forward to seeing Snow White and the Huntsman at the movies. The film’s extended trailer reveals a unique and grim twist on the old fable.

Rather than wishing simply to be “fairest of them all,” the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) must consume her beautiful stepdaughter’s beating heart in order to achieve immortality. It seems Ravenna craves not just beauty, but also the ability to cheat death.

 

Christmas Thoughts from Take Two

The Most Peculiar Gift

It was Christmas morning and my godparents’ living room was filled to capacity with kids, a sea of crumpled up wrapping paper, and sparkling new toys. I was a contemplative teenager with nothing left to open (it didn’t take long to open gift card envelopes); so I sat back and, for the first time, beheld the joy that spreads across children’s faces as they unwrap presents. The view was breathtaking.

 

Evil, Suffering, and Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job

“My friends cautioned me not to write this book. They warned me, ‘No one who attempts to write any kind of commentary on Job can escape without some new experience in suffering.’ They had a point.”

  -Hugh Ross, Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job

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In the years it took Hugh to write Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job, he (and his wife, Kathy) endured profound personal suffering. Some of those trials, including the loss of their fathers and almost losing their son, are shared in his latest book.

Hugh’s intent was to write on the science content in Job. Instead, the book developed into a conversation about the connection between creation theology and evil and suffering.

 

The Truth about the God of the Old Testament

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomanical, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.

Atheist Richard Dawkins’ infamous description of Yahweh in his book The God Delusion is enough to make most Christians’ blood boil. Unfortunately, we are not always well-equipped to calmly and reasonably respond to such vitriol.

 

Turtles and Transdimensionality

They don’t say much—in fact they don’t speak at all—but Ralphie and Candace have taught me plenty. Their actions, swift and sly, speak volumes and remind me of old habits I’m grateful to have let go of (mostly).

A good friend would likely encourage the pair toward spiritual maturity, but that’s not an option. At least not concerning Ralphie and Candace. They’re turtles—family pets.