StephenBarkley.com

Power can be an extremely destructive thing in any context, but in the service of religion it is downright diabolical. — Richard Foster (The Challenge of the Disciplined Life) You know you’re approaching a profound section of scripture when the section heading (at least in my NRSV) reads, “Miscellaneous Regulations”. Nothing warms the soul and [...]

OK, so here’s the deal. I’m going on an 8 day canoe trip through Algonquin, and I’m leaving in a couple of hours. I tried (honestly) to write an Ezekiel entry, but all I can think about is camping. “Ezekiel stood on the banks of the river in Babylon . . . I wonder if [...]

Afresh I seek thee.  Lead me once more I pray— Even should it be against my will, thy way. Let me not feel thee foreign any hour, Or shrink from thee as an estranged power. Through doubt, through faith, through bliss, through stark dismay, Through sunshine, wind, or snow, or fog, or shower, Draw me [...]

Religious piety is bankrupt without justice. — Richard Foster (The Challenge of the Disciplined Life) Nothing’s more frustrating than sitting down in front of some mindless TV drama with a fresh bag of chips, only to open the bag and find it half full. I know they sell it by weight, not volume—that doesn’t matter. What [...]

I’ve got to admit it’s getting better, (better) A little better all the time (it can’t get no worse) I have to admit it’s getting better, (better) It’s getting better since you’ve been mine — The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney), “Getting Better” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Why do we feel so compelled to own [...]

It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most human beings live only for the gratification of it. — Aristotle Have you ever been faced with a choice between what you want and what you need? A new CD or rent? A doughnut or a shiny apple? An extra canoe trip or family [...]

Faith is beautifully contagious. — Madeleine L’Engle (The Genesis Trilogy) File this one under commands ripped out of context. Has anyone ever told you it’s unchristian-like to get a tattoo? The reason probably came from the Torah. Hear the word of the Lord: You shall not . . . tattoo any marks upon you: I am [...]

Reverence or the fear of the Lord in the Old Testament means specifically faithfulness and obedience to the covenant demands of God and this is synonymous with true religion. — David Peterson (Engaging with God) Jesus told a story about talents. Let me refresh your memory. A master goes on a trip. Before he leaves, entrusts [...]

While ours is the responsibility rightly to handle the Word of God in preparation and exposition, yet it remains the Spirit’s sword, and not ours. — Sinclair B. Ferguson I’m not very good at delegating. There, I’ve said it. My secret’s out. I work hard at doing it, but it’s tough. It would be much simpler just [...]

Easter thus means “Jesus is Lord.” The phrase has depths of meaning not always seen in a tradition in which the affirmation has become a commonplace. Jesus is Lord. Rome is not. The domination system is not. — Marcus Borg (The Meaning of Jesus) I grew up in Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. It’s a beautiful town, surrounded [...]