Psalm 119 is basically 176 verses of the psalmist saying, “God, I really, really love Your Word.” And while that might sound a little intense, there’s something wonderfully practical underneath all of it: what gets into us eventually comes out of us. Our interaction with God’s word is less about simply reading it but rather, […]

We all have lines that tell us who we are—and who we’re not. Race, nationality, politics, and a whole host of other identities can shape us in ways we barely notice. In Part 2 of Self-De-Centered, Barry looks at what happens when those identities become walls, and at Jesus’ very different way: incarnation. If we’re […]

It turns out there’s a pretty big problem with making yourself the center of the universe: you’re not the center of the universe. But what does that actually mean for the way we understand ourselves? In the first episode of this series, Barry takes a look at the self from several different angles—biological, psychological, sociological, […]

Wouldn’t life be simpler if everyone just agreed with you? Maybe—but God didn’t build His kingdom that way. In Part 2 of …Who Needs Enemies?, Barry looks at why God intentionally created us with different gifts, personalities, and callings, and why even the people who drive us crazy may have something we need. Plus, what […]

We spend much of our lives trying to outrun our adversaries, but what if they’re actually one of God’s gifts? In Part 1 of the …Who Needs Enemies series, Barry explores why opposition isn’t always something to avoid. From the courtroom, where justice depends on opposing sides, to the political arena, where differing viewpoints can […]

In Part 2 of our exploration of Psalm 115, Barry concludes his look at the responsibilities a lawn gnome cannot fulfill, but you can. God has given us mouths to act so that his unseen presence becomes unmistakably visible through our praise—in other words we need to stop being like an idol and start acting […]

Barry takes a deeper dive into the lawn gnome theology of Psalm 115 as he revisits gratitude. Gratitude is one of those things we know we’re supposed to have: say “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” and remember to send thank-you notes. But this psalm shows us that gratitude is more than a simple courtesy; that […]

What do lawn gnomes, ancient idols, and our everyday lives have in common? More than you might think. Barry explores one of the sharpest—and funniest—critiques of idolatry, showing why the things we trust inevitably shape who we become. This ancient psalm reminds us that in our attempts to seek the objective existence of God, we […]

In the previous episode, Barry walked us through the process and tools he uses to interpret the Psalms. This time, we put those tools to work on Psalm 114, and uncover its tropes, motifs, parallels to find much more than a story about mountains, rocks, and runaway seas. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks […]

The sea runs away, a river changes direction, and mountains start hopping like sheep. Welcome to Psalm 114. Barry explores one of the Bible’s most colorful psalms while giving pointers on how to read Psalms in general. Beneath all the geological excitement lies a masterclass in biblical poetry. We’ll explore tropes, motifs, parallels, and why […]