A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. Q is for Quail – “They asked, and He brought them quail.” (Psalm 105:40) A choice game bird that has blessed Sinai residents for over 3,500 years; an unexpected sign of God’s presence and care, overlooking the grumbles for the time being; an example of God’s lowliness, lowering Himself to …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. P is for Play – “The life of God is simultaneously work and rest, because all God does, working and resting, He does with the majestic ease of play.” (St. Augustine, Confessions) Play is that which brings and sustains innocent delight. Play celebrates and affirms some aspect of life. …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. O is for Oaks of Mamre – Oh, if only trees could talk, what tales they could tell. Take the famous oak grove found in Mamre, an area in Hebron straight east of the Dead Sea. These oaks would tell us that that famous landmark was where Abraham pitched …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. N is for Nathan the Prophet – If you’re trying to get ahead in the world, or climb some golden ladder to success, don’t choose “prophet” at the next Career Development workshop. A prophet has the job of speaking the word of the Lord, no matter the consequences, come …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. M is for Mercy – If grace is love smiling, and compassion love desiring, then mercy is love doing. Mercy is the fulfillment of needs through love-in-action. Mercy is the chief attribute of God, and so if we are made in His image, it is meant to be our …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. L is for Lydia – A hero of the Faith; her story in found in Acts 16. She was the first European convert to Christianity, and Paul’s first convert in Philippi in Greek Asia Minor. Lydia was unusual in many ways: an apparently wealthy single woman (or perhaps a …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. K is for Key – It’s small enough to hide in the palm of your hand, yet will render a strong man helpless behind a locked door. A key is a symbol of authority, and is synonymous with “most significant” and “decisive influence.” Yet it is the item most easily …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. J is for Jesus – The One and Only, though many thought Him an unlikely Messiah in many ways. Dozens of descriptive names have been offered in vain hopes of discovering a singular identity. Some of these descriptions were Rose of Sharon, Lion of Judah, Lamb of God, Morning Star, …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. H is for Harlot – A person who unfortunately needs to sell him/herself for a living. Nonetheless, we have much to learn from these and other sexual offenders, who are fellow human beings and thus made in the image of God. Society has deemed them worthless, but not God, …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. G is for Garden – A place of cultivated beauty; an unlikely site to have such a pivotal history; a place set apart for the two extremes of life: growth and death. Gardens contain vegetation, flowerage, and other aspects of creation in process; gardens also contain tombs, burial grounds, …

A Whimsical Dictionary of Surprising Influences. F is for Fool – Someone who plays dumb, either on purpose or unknowingly; a person who appears to lack common sense. There are two main species: 1. the Foolish Fool, who smugly says “My will be done” and tend to love something good and follow it all costs. …