Category Archives: James R. Coggins

Gord and the Leghold Trap by James R. Coggins

I don’t even remember Gord’s name. It could have been Gord. But I vividly remember the story he told, even several decades later. Gord was probably in his thirties, he lived in the city of Winnipeg, and he had a … Continue reading

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The Valley of Dry Bones by James R. Coggins

In Ezekiel 37, the prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of a valley full of dry bones. God told Ezekiel to “prophesy” to the bones, to tell the bones to join back together, take on flesh, and begin to breathe … Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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