Where Did I End Up? (Psalm 23, Part 3)
Have you ever gotten lost? Wandered off the path you were supposed to be on and found yourself in some strange place? It can happen. Most people have had such moments. There are times when we can feel that way in our lives with the Lord. It’s not that we aren’t...
It’s Who He Is (Psalm 23, Part 2)
It was said of Fred Astaire (the MGM musical dancing star) that he could make any partner look good. He was such a phenomenal dancer (and choreographer) that even the best dancing partners always looked even more amazing when they danced with him. That's why it was...
Did You Notice? (Psalm 23, Part 1)
I've climbed the stairs in my home hundreds of times; up and down, multiple times every day. But sitting here thinking about that, I realized I really don't know how many steps there are. I know there are two banks of steps linking the downstairs to the upstairs...
Feeling and Thinking in the Face of Moral Evil
It was a shocking moment, caught on multiple cameras. Charlie Kirk was a well-known young advocate for free speech and traditional American values, and one who often freely spoke about his faith in Jesus. He was known for gracious interaction with those who...
What Might It Mean to See God’s Glory?
God was leading His people out of the slavery of Egypt into a new life. He had done that with displays of great power—the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the exhibition of His control of nature on Mount Sinai. Even with all of that, Moses asked a...
Reflecting on a Life Well-Lived
Thinking about my friend, Craig, in his passing. By Brian Onken, Academic Director of The River Craig Alan O’Neal January 3, 1954–July 15, 2025 Why a post about Craig O'Neal on The River's website? Because he was a great friend of the ministry and instrumental in...
Not a Divinely Designed Rorschach Test
You are shown several "ink blots"–black images on white cards. You are asked to say something about what you see in the images or what thoughts are triggered by these splatters on a white background. Based on your response, assessments are made about your...
A Startling Moment in Time
I like to stand outside during a thunderstorm–not in an open field, but on my front porch or in the open garage. There is something startling, something awe-inspiring, and even a bit frightening about the lightning that flashes across the sky and the thunder that...
What Do You NEED to Know?
There are a large number of resources available for those who long to read and understand the Bible for themselves. And often, those resources suggest there is a great wealth of "background" information you need to become familiar with to make sense of what you...
It Wasn’t Random
As we approach the celebration of Easter, I have been thinking about what we find in the Gospels that lead up to Jesus' death and resurrection. Those moments in His ministry are some of the most defining and most memorable. But there are a few other Gospel...
