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Author Archives: jrcoggins
Speaking with Alexa by James R. Coggins
Speaking with Alexa by James R. Coggins When our daughter told my wife and me that she was giving us Alexa for Christmas, I admit it was the cause of some confusion. Entirely our fault, of course. We’re old and … Continue reading
The Name of God by James R. Coggins
When we think of praising the name of God, we often think of doing this verbally, as in the psalms, which were the Old Testament worship songs: “I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will … Continue reading
Poems for a Busy Time by James R. Coggins
No one has time to read blogs in the busy time around Christmas. It is appropriate, then, that today I post some poems since no one reads poetry either. Seasonally Affected Disorder Our Christmas cactuses have glorious practices in November, … Continue reading
Posted in James R. Coggins
Tagged A Christmas Carol, Bethlehem, Charles Dickens, Christmas cactus, prayer, Rachel, wise men
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Rachel Weeping for Her Children by James R. Coggins
In his Gospel, Matthew stated that Herod’s slaughter of the young children in Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy: “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is … Continue reading
Posted in James R. Coggins
Tagged Benjamin, Bethlehem, Herod, Rachel, Ramah, slaughter of the innocents
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A Love Story by James R. Coggins
Sixth and Last in a Series The marriage of Ruth and Boaz described in the Old Testament book of Ruth was not the usual love story. They got married following a social convention of obligation and need, not romance. They … Continue reading
The Ideal and the Reality by James R. Coggins
Fifth in a Series There were in the Mosaic law some very wise social provisions. One of these was gleaning. The poor were allowed to go into the fields after harvest and “glean,” pick up whatever grain and fruit the … Continue reading
Posted in James R. Coggins
Tagged gleaning, Mosaic Law, Social provisions, social realities
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Protest and Folk Songs by James R. Coggins
I grew up in the 1960s listening to protest songs and folk songs sung by such artists as Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Those songs spoke to me then, and they still resonate with me today. To be … Continue reading
Posted in James R. Coggins
Tagged Bob Dylan, Noel Paul Stookey, Paul and Mary, Peter, social justice
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The Wings of the Lord by James R. Coggins
Fourth in a Series Reading the story of Ruth gleaning in the vineyard of Boaz (Ruth 2:1-12), I was struck by the force of Boaz’s words to Ruth: “May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, … Continue reading
Death, Be Not Proud by James R. Coggins
We all know it is inevitable. We know it is coming. But we never seem to be ready for it. It’s death. And Walter Wiens wants to change that. Not death. He can’t do much about that. But he can … Continue reading
“Pleasant” by James R. Coggins
Third in a Series The Old Testament character Naomi undoubtedly had a hard life. She experienced famine and exile and lost her husband and her only two sons. As a result, she lived in poverty in her later years. No … Continue reading
Clear, Insightful Thinking by James R. Coggins
Back when I was editor of a denominational magazine (the Mennonite Brethren Herald), I used to delight in receiving submissions from many ordinary people with something to say. Some were well-written and some not, but I was glad to publish … Continue reading
Naomi and Ruth by James R. Coggins
Second in a Series A common interpretation of Ruth 1:16 has often bothered me. In this verse, the Moabite woman Ruth said to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you … Continue reading
Frankenstein and Other Monsters by James R. Coggins
In 1818, Mary Shelley published a novel titled Frankenstein. The plot concerns a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who constructed a creature out of material from dead humans and animals and animated it by applying electricity. This creature, called a “monster,” … Continue reading
The Best Laid Plans by James R. Coggins
First in a Series The Old Testament book of Ruth begins with this statement: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and … Continue reading
My Connections to Brother Andrew by James R. Coggins
Brother Andrew (Anne Van der Bijl) died on September 27 of this year. Brother Andrew was a Dutch Christian who became concerned that the communist governments of the Soviet Union and other eastern European nations were persecuting Christians and suppressing … Continue reading
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