Category Archives: James R. Coggins

The Dominant Ideology of Our Age by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 12, 2023 by jrcoggins

It began with a discussion of journalism, in particular, a post by a fellow historian, Gerry Bowler. Bowler decried the collapse of journalism in the 21st century. (He writes from a Canadian perspective, but much of his analysis is relevant … Continue reading →

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Locked Doors by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 5, 2023 by jrcoggins

John 20:19-29 tells the story of Jesus’ followers fearfully hiding inside a locked room after His crucifixion, when Jesus suddenly joined them. Locked doors were no barrier to Him. This story is symbolic as well as factual. The point is … Continue reading →

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The Living and the Dead by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 28, 2023 by jrcoggins

Question: I am sometimes asked: Why do you write murder mysteries? Why do you choose to write about death? Why do you focus on dead people? Answer: The question reveals a misunderstanding. Murder mysteries are not about the dead. They … Continue reading →

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As the Father Has Sent Me by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 21, 2023 by jrcoggins

After His resurrection, Jesus told His close followers, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). This raises the question of how the Father sent Jesus. What did God send Jesus to do? We often understand … Continue reading →

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Five-Minute Slices of Life by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 14, 2023 by jrcoggins

Five-Minute Slices of Life by James R. Coggins Early one morning several years ago, Allen Unrau knocked on my door. He lived only three or four blocks away, but we had never met. Allen had come to ask me to … Continue reading →

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Malchus by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 7, 2023 by jrcoggins

In 1731, the Spanish coast guard boarded an English merchant ship captained by a man named Robert Jenkins. The incident was not very serious, but in the melee Jenkins’s ear was cut off, and he apparently complained to the British … Continue reading →

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Plastic Bags Are Fragile by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 31, 2023 by jrcoggins

I have an acquaintance who, through no fault of her own, is a single mother. No matter what their skills and resources, single mothers have it rough. The responsibilities are heavy. A while back, I got a call for help. … Continue reading →

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Glory by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 24, 2023 by jrcoggins

On the night before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His immediate followers and for those of us who would become His followers in the future. This prayer is recorded in John 17:1-26. I had read this prayer many … Continue reading →

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Romantic Poetry by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 17, 2023 by jrcoggins

She asked for my help in studying for her English exam. She is an accountant and does not get poetry. It gave me an opportunity to reacquaint myself with English poets of the 18th and 19th centuries. This was the … Continue reading →

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Love and Hate by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 10, 2023 by jrcoggins

I had read John 15 many times but never noticed the juxtaposition of a passage on love and a passage on hate. In John 15:9-17, Jesus commanded His followers repeatedly to “love each other as I have loved you.” In … Continue reading →

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Good News for Children by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 3, 2023 by jrcoggins

My B.A. degree included a heavy focus on the great classics of English literature. Among them was a book by a barely literate Baptist preacher—John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. A massive volume I consulted on English literature said that Bunyan demonstrated … Continue reading →

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Fruit That Will Last by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 26, 2023 by jrcoggins

The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes can be seen as a long lament about the impermanence and transience of life on earth. Nothing seems to last, not wealth or fame or health or strength or position or governments or achievements … Continue reading →

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The Value of Routines by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 19, 2023 by jrcoggins

Our household runs on routines. I get up in the morning, set the thermostat to 21.5 degrees Celsius, feed our pets a pre-determined amount, make the coffee, check the weather forecast, check the news headlines, record any TV shows I … Continue reading →

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Pruning by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 12, 2023 by jrcoggins

In John 15: 1-8, Jesus presented the encouraging metaphor of the vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…I am the vine; you are the branches.” Because we are connected to the vine, Jesus promised, “You … Continue reading →

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Significant by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 5, 2023 by jrcoggins

In a recent devotional piece, I presented the “Ten Commandments” as they actually were—a covenant in which “the Israelites would agree to worship God and obey Him and God would agree to be with them and bless them and make … Continue reading →

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