Coffee with Creamer

Barry wades into Psalm 93, one of the shortest psalms with 93 words. In this flood we've got transience and permanence, power and purpose, and faith and action. You would think the strength of the flood would swallow us, but instead that strength provides a refuge for us to pour our lives out for others, […]

Barry heads back from his mind-bending journey into the land of opposites. He covers a few ironies from opposite perspectives and reminds us that only a radical irruption in the environment can avert the inevitable collapse of our interest into selfishness at one level or another. Thank God, God is into radical irruptions.   Scriptures: […]

Heavy on the science and philosophy, Barry dives into a mind-bending journey to the land of opposites. Opposites can have more in common than we think. Even when we are at odds with someone, that commonness allows us to sit down and share a conversation with them, something that can make us more like Christ. […]

Psalm 92 reminds us that life is short but a Christian's presence can be enduring. From our perspective, our lives are here today, gone tomorrow, like husks. However, God's people are the kernel, filling the world with his presence. And we do our best work shouldering the world's purpose on the day we rest.   […]

There may not be any stupid questions, but there are wrong ones if we want to follow Jesus. Sometimes we have a goal in mind but ask the wrong question to get us there or, worse yet, have the wrong goal to begin with! A little humility might help us start to get both right […]

Looking for shelter? Barry walks us through Psalm 91 and reminds us that God's pinions are plenty strong and faithful enough to provide the protection we need in the midst of our inevitable troubles. What is confusing is that his plan sometimes looks more like a sacrifice than salvation.     Scriptures: Psalm 91 Ex […]

Barry highlights a character often found in stories that brings help to the world. In Scripture we see angels, donkeys, prophets, church leaders and believers fill this role. Are you ready to recognize these characters in your life and perhaps become one for others?       Scriptures: Gen 21:15-20 Numbers 22:22-30 1 Kings 13:14-19, […]

Throwing out the baby with the bathwater wouldn't be a “proverb” if it wasn't such a common practice. This episode focuses on holding onto the painful experiences of others while fighting the circumstances that put them there. Referenced Episode: The Value of Decisions: Part 1 with Rachael Denhollander and Tiffany Thigpen  

Barry walks through Psalm 90, pointing out lesser contrasts like the one between transient humanity and durable mountains, to draw our attention to the greater contrast between Almighty God and each person, each grain of dust. The good news is that the power in that contrast is also God's to use with the dust. Scripture: […]

Barry revisits his question-and-answer series, this time focusing on the process of change in relationships. This could be a church, a business, or a couple—anywhere there are people. We know the honeymoon phase will pass, but still find it odd that it does.       Book: On Revolution, Hannah Arendt Scriptures: 2 Cor 7:1; […]

Barry walks with us through an imaginary art museum, stopping in front of Psalm 89. This painting's canvas, background, and complex foreground include most if not all of the colors of the other Psalms, just as the Davidic Covenant echoes the whole of Yahweh's relationship with His creation.   Scriptures: Psalm 89 1 Kings 4:31 […]

Barry begins a series covering some of the great questions he has encountered through many (and I mean many) years of ministry. Today's question has to do with what is essential to believe when coming to Christ. The one thing about Jesus that sets him apart from every other human is the resurrection—it declares Jesus […]

Barry continues to think through how to get back to civil discourse, using Robert Frost's poem, The Gift Outright, to remind us of what we have in common. Simplifying our differences to one or the other side of a political divide does very little for either side and does no justice to our beautiful, complicated […]

Barry once again reminds us what our job is and what our job ain't. One can determine the outcome they wish before they begin the journey, but God has actually given us the task to complete the journey, no matter where it ends, in a particular way. To lose sight of that way would be […]

Barry talks about a Psalm that hits a minor chord, with a focus on a feeling of loneliness and despair. Sometimes we face situations that cast darkness over days or even years and these moments can feel incredibly difficult to endure. Psalm 88 has both good news and even better news for these moments: not […]

Barry finishes up his discussion of what we are doing and what we should be doing instead. This episode focuses on replacing the Enlightenment's devotion to comprehend and control the universe with a devotion to understand and live out our purpose within it. Once we know (as we can from scripture) what God expects; all […]

Barry begins the celebration of his upcoming birthday by using your time and mind to focus on a conundrum that has fascinated him since high school: the Tower of Babel. What is the difference between what humans are capable of and what they are responsible for? Let's help him with his birthday wish.     […]

Barry talks about change and what is required to get there. Our enduring impact on the grand scheme of things can be far greater than the tiny space we occupy in it. However, the risk to change so much relies heavily on the two things we might want to do without: God and others.   […]

Barry skips to the chase scene as he walks through Psalm 87, focusing on the meaning of the city of Jerusalem from the Old Testament to the New. It just so happens, that God finds his people the same places he finds his enemies.       Scriptures: Psalm 87, 48:1-3, 50:1-2 Rev 22:1-2, 7:9-10 […]

Barry finishes his series on how we can let God's heart change ours. He focuses on a few ruts—both personal and public—that require the special analytical tool of “meta-questions.” The application of this tool can help us respect other image-bearers better, rethink persistent problems, and decide what to do with our own agency this very […]

Ever wondered what was meant by David being “a man after God's own heart?” That sounds like a pretty good thing. But what is that thing in God's heart? Barry starts a series about how God uses his sovereignty and power, and what would make our hearts more like His.       Scriptures: 1 […]

Barry continues the conversation about the incarnation and some of the ironies associated with our celebration of it as Christians and society. Every irony can lead us back to the unbelievable (and yet truest of all) story of a God willing to step into the filth of humankind to raise it up to meet the […]

Barry attempts what may seem silly at first—a reconciliation of Christ and Christmas. He starts with a value, describes its opposite, acknowledges the divergence, and then ends up at a point of reconciliation. This may feel like a lot of work, but it is the work that God humbles himself to do for us on […]

Barry finishes up his series on faith and pride, talking about the instances where pride creeps in to replace faith. Abraham is a great example for us as he was willing to give up the very thing (person in this case) that his faith birthed in order to maintain his relationship with the one who […]

Barry begins a series on faith. There are common opposites to faith of which we ought to be wary: inconsistency, doubt, disobedience, and hypocrisy. However, Barry believes the one that has been left out undermines all else about faith.     Scriptures: Prov 3:34, 16:5 James 4:6 1 Pet 5:5 Is 14:12-14 Ezekiel 28 Psalm […]

Barry arrives at Psalm 86 and reminds us that all people find themselves in the same position—both us and our enemies—in need of judgment and mercy. What we also need is the supernatural moment when we pass the mercy on.     Scriptures: Psalm 86 2 Sam 22:25-28 Hosea 6:4-6 Psalm 89:11 Matt 18: 23-35 […]

Barry finishes up this series on elections and consequences. He talks about a few things we need to remember about people, what we must acknowledge about ourselves, and how these things should shape our faith in a God who knows all of that too. Scriptures: Heb 2:14-15, Matt 7      

Barry begins a series about the interaction between populations and their leaders. In this episode he discusses what he has learned from election cycles since his young adult years, and the unfortunate truth behind Plato's great brute. As someone may rightly ask in any dog park, “Who is training whom, here?”       Scriptures: […]

Barry talks about Psalm 85 and the all-sufficient nature of God. There is a magical story of a meeting on a roadway, a declaration of peace in a war-torn creation, and a happily-ever-after springing from the ground.       Scriptures: Psalm 85, 14:1-7 Micah 6:8 Gen 1:6-13 1 Cor 15 Matt 21:33-46 Luke 18

Some people confuse superstition and faith. Barry talks about the difference between the two and how Christians should, aside from being superstitious, be more supernatural in our thinking, not less.     Scriptures: Acts 17:16-23 1 Cor 8:4-8, 10:14-22 Jas 1:14-15 Col 1:15-20

Barry concludes his series on the artifacts of higher education and church life. We have so much to gain from being involved in faith and learning communities, as we all need someone else to tug on our bootstraps from time to time.  

Barry describes the odd artifact of many Sunday morning services, where we all sit looking toward the front as the preacher tells us things that (hopefully) we already know. It is similar to a college class and the interaction between professor and student. What is it that keeps these dinosaurs from going extinct?     […]

Barry reads some poetry to remind us that time's winged chariot is hurrying near, and we best make the most of what we have. Whether it's acknowledging the importance of people who are living, people we have lost, or the people we are to become in our remaining time, this stuff matters. Poems: To His […]

Barry explores a story in the Old Testament that reminds us of a glorious truth in the New Testament. In his peaceful comfort in Persia, Nehemiah begins with heartfelt intercession for the people in Jerusalem, and then moves to incarnation as he goes himself, and identifies with the sins, sorrow, and shame of His people. […]

Barry heads to Psalm 82 for a productive counseling session with God. Just as when we go to counseling to talk about all those people that are at fault, there is always that awkward moment in the session when the counselor (in this case, God) turns the focus to you, to us. We are the […]

Barry covers a narrative in Matthew 16 where Simon receives two names. The first one is quite wonderful—Peter. The second one… not so much. The connection between this confession and rejection is undeniable: to accept Christ's identity means to embrace (and follow) his purpose. Scripture: Matt 16:13-28  

While we think of worship as something going from us to God, it is also important because of how it moves between us, and how it prepares us to receive from Him. When we run out of thanks, He still has more to offer than we might find on our own.       Scriptures: […]

Barry talks about the things we do and don't realize about the world in which we live, the relationships we have to others in that world, and the nature of the table to which Christ invites us.       Scripture: 1 Cor 11:28-34 Books: The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt, On Christian Doctrine Book III, […]

Barry walks through Psalm 80, utilizing a repeated phrase to evaluate our need and our provision. We bring two things to the equation of this relationship with God: need and willingness to remain under the weight of his glory. God brings absolutely everything else. Scripture: Psalm 80  

Barry concludes the conversation about what it means to both do and be human. It is humbling to realize that our mundane processes can provide for us and others, our work can shape the way people see and live in the world, and our presence and actions can make all of us together more like […]

Barry starts a conversation about being human, prompted by reading Hannah Arendt's book, The Human Condition. In scripture there is an inherent relationship between our being and doing. To give everything back to God, it may help to know what the pieces of that “everything” are.       Book: The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt […]

Barry talks about Psalm 79 and the shift necessary to make the most of mistreatment. Yes, I said making the most of mistreatment. With all the natural evil in this world, God is most interested in working the evil out of his people. We never seek God's help because we deserve it, but because we […]

Barry completes the series about a Christian's moral and political obligations. Jesus, our example, is the only one who can safely traverse the land marks and mines, heading right to love of God and others in a way that shakes the foundation of the world to its core. Now it's our turn.       […]

Barry finishes up the foundation for a conversation about the conjunction of ethical society and theological ends. Today focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of progressivism and conservatism and how both are inherently flawed. While that sounds pessimistic, it serves to get us where we need to be—seeing the world as Christ-followers. Scriptures: Mk 14:7 […]

Barry starts a series about how Christ's life and ministry should inform our lives, defining the destination and the journey. Buckle your seat belts as we ride the emotional roller coaster of theological pessimism, political failure, and ethical obligation.       Scriptures: Matt 26:6-14 John 12:8 Mark 14:7

Barry talks about faith and its destination. Some circles are still contemplating the truthfulness of the Bible. If that debate is decided in favor of the Scriptures, one may think our work here is done. However, believing the Bible is only the first step—the more challenging journey is letting it change you.  

Barry talks through a long psalm, 78, about the longer history of a people's broken relationship with their God. When God blesses them, they forget him, and when he judges them, they blame him. A lose-lose for God turns to a win-win for us at the cross.     Scriptures: Psalm 78, Luke 9:12, Luke […]

After a recent denominational convention, Barry discusses denominations and our interaction with them. He gives what are reasons to leave, what aren't reasons to leave, and reasons not to leave. Believe it or not, that actually makes sense in the context.       Scripture: Ezekiel 36:21-27 Referenced Episodes: 17, 18, 19, 51, 101

A discussion of profanity ends this series about art and a Christian. The focus here is not on the moral impact of using profanity, but an invitation to see the person behind the behavior and to consider that person's message and value. Scriptures: Eph 5:4 Gal 5

Barry continues the conversation of art and the Christian, adding to it a surprising challenge when it comes to the profane. To provide a steppingstone for a jump that may feel uncomfortable, he adds humor—no, actually, he adds a discussion about humor. Books: The Wit and its Relation to the Unconscious, Sigmund Freud  

The bad news: there are times when things are so bad we can run out of words and faith. Good news: in those moments the Father, Christ, and his Spirit never run out of exactly what we need. God's steps are on our path even when we can't see them.       Scriptures: Psalm […]