Spring Sunset c. J. P. Mahon, 2012

During our first week of Lenten Bible study on the prophets, Walter  Bruggemann’s question “Can we bargain with God?”  was very controversial. The programmed Canned response was, “No,” God is all-knowing, all-powerful; therefore, God is above us and you cannot bargain with an unequal.”

Be careful here. When we make God all that we are not, are we creating an idol god? We must begin with the fact that God is beyond all description. Muslims realize that even the 99 names for God do not exhaust the richness of God. We can know God only as darkness that is light! When we enter the abyss of darkness in our angst for God (see Merton below), we find hope amid despair, and light amid darkness. Continue reading →