Like most prophets, Ezekiel is a downer. A vision or two keeps things interesting, but basically you've got some warnings, laments, and judgements. Couldn't these Old Testament prophets have tried to spice things up just a little bit? Maybe some bucket drumming or balloon animals every once in a while? Everyone likes balloon animals, right?
Read MoreOh Israel. What are we gonna do with you? Jeremiah has been nagging at you for years telling you that some bad stuff was gonna go down if you didn't shape up. And this isn't just any dude, Jeremiah is a prophet, so it's basically like Yahweh himself is saying "Israelite peeps, watch out! The way you are living right now is gonna lead you down a road you don't want to be on. Listen to what I'm saying and I'll help you get back on track." But did you listen?
Read MoreEver know someone who is a constant nag? Always reminding, correcting and saying stuff like "don't forget to put on clean underwear," or "looks like you missed a spot" or "repent for your sins or God will kill you, no one will care and you'll sit outside and rot like garbage." If so, you've got a good start on understanding Jeremiah.
Read MoreIsaiah is all about good news, bad news. The first part of the book is all about God's judgment on Israel. See, they had been thinking that just 'cause they were the "chosen ones" of God, they can do whatever they want and it's OK, because they were "chosen" back in the day. God's like, "sorry, dudes, I'll still get all Old Testament on you if I have to."
Read MoreIsaiah is all about good news, bad news. The first part of the book is all about God's judgment on Israel. See, they had been thinking that just 'cause they were the "chosen ones" of God, they can do whatever they want and it's OK, because they were "chosen" back in the day. God's like, "sorry, dudes, I'll still get all Old Testament on you if I have to."
Read More(Second of 2 designs for Song of Solomon.) If Song of Solomon was on TV, it would be on cable. Pay cable. Late at night. There are 2 main characters in the book. The guy (Beloved) and the girl (Lover). At the beginning, they're kinda seeing each other across the room, making eyes, thinking things like "I wonder if she like likes me" or "Here he comes! Does my hair look all right?" By chapter 8, they're all Red Shoe Diaries.
Read More(First of 2 designs for Song of Solomon.) If Song of Solomon was on TV, it would be on cable. Pay cable. Late at night. There are 2 main characters in the book. The guy (Beloved) and the girl (Lover). At the beginning, they're kinda seeing each other across the room, making eyes, thinking things like "I wonder if she like likes me" or "Here he comes! Does my hair look all right?" By chapter 8, they're all Red Shoe Diaries.
Read MoreIf you are looking for a happy book to cheer you up on a bad day, make sure you skip Ecclesiastes. The book could be summed up by the word "meaningless" which it repeats 35 times through out its twelve chapters. It's dark, gloomy and pretty depressing. Kinda like a teenager... or Eeyore. Tradition has it that Ecclesiastes was written by an old man (some say King Solomon) who was looking back on the great achievements of his life.
Read MoreThe book of Proverbs is full of short words of wisdom, which isn't surprising since many people say the book was written by King Solomon, who was a pretty Mensa dude. Proverbs got me thinking about different nuggets of wisdom that I've heard and I want to share my favorite one with you: "You can't shine a turd." Five little words that express so much.
Read More(The third of three Psalms design for my Word series.) The book of Psalms is well known for being poetry of praises from David to God. It's full of flowery language and some beautiful metaphors for God. If it helps, think of it this way: Psalms is what Thomas Kinkade has bastardized through his "art." (Ooooo, Kinkade, you got burned!) Psalms has so much beautiful and poetic imagery, you may be thinking to yourself, "but Jim, how could you possibly choose what to do your Word design on?"
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