In December 2021 Pew Research Center reported 60% of Protestants in the US considered themselves “born again” or evangelical Christians.1 Some 40% of non-Catholic Christians either didn’t consider themselves “born again” or didn’t answer the question. And over 30% of people who considered themselves “spiritual” were not sure they believed in God.2 So, what does being “spiritual” mean? If you search the internet, you will find answers anywhere from being “born again” and having the Holy Spirit in you, to…..
In school the only F that I got in English was on an essay about Moby Dick. I itemized some of the generally accepted symbolism. But then I said, at the time Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick, some people were shop keepers. Some were sailors. Some were butchers. Or bakers. Or candlestick makers. Herman Melville was a writer. He didn’t intend any of the symbolism that people read into it. He wrote Moby Dick to make a living. When I…..
Once upon a time – back in “cave days” – airplane travel was not the “go to” for taking trips. People drove the rural highways. In 1979 Frank Rowsome, Jr. even wrote a history of the Burma Shave signs – “The Verse by the Side of the Road.” I wonder how many people bought Burma Shave because of those signs. I think of those now when I see a series of fence posts with something like “Jesus came…To make a…..
“Talk is cheap.” That’s why you get multiple bids for your new counters or new roof, right? But some speech is expensive. People do what they’re paid to do. Some are even paid to get elected. Then they get paid to speak. Some people think those elected are paid to speak whether their speaking accomplishes anything or not. But all speech accomplishes something. Centuries ago, James said a big ship is moved by a small rudder. In WWII, the War…..
It’s Passover. Passover is “Passover” because death “passed over” the households that were protected by the blood of the lamb. One of the mainstays of Passover is eating unleavened bread. Matzo. Interesting, though, that the Torah also refers to motza. That’s not a typo. Yes, in Exodus 13 Moses said “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place….Unleavened bread…..
There’s no guesswork to the past. You don’t have to wonder whether or not something happens when it already has. Romans 4:17 says God “calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” 1 Peter 2:24 says, “by (Jesus’s) stripes you were healed.” Hebrews 2:14 says, just as we are flesh, Jesus became flesh so “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Each of these passages uses past…..
All dice are numbered the same. If I see a 1 on a die, you see a 6. If I see a 2, you see a 5. It all depends on your POV – your point of view. It’s been said you can prove anything you want based on the Bible. An eye for an eye (Leviticus 24;19-21). But turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-39). Sell everything and give to the poor (Matt 19:21). But if a man doesn’t work,…..
Background notes: Psalm 14:3 and Romans 3:12 – There is none who does good, no, not one. ACT John: Scene 16 Col. Jessus began to show to His men that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and be raised the third day. Lt. Peters: This won’t happen to You! I don’t think that’s true! Col. Jessus: You can’t handle the truth! Lt. Peters: Colonel Jessus, will a cross be Your “Code Blood Red”? Col. Jessus: Son,…..
As I sat in my quiet time the other day, I thought, “I want, I need, to be more like Christ.” Then I thought, what’s that even mean? To BE more like Christ; not ACT more like Christ. Can “who He is” be separated from “what He did”? Usually when we think about being more like Christ, we think about things Jesus did. Acting lovingly toward people. Forgiving. Healing. Blessing. Teaching. Praying. Doing what the Father showed Him. Sacrificing Himself. …..
Moses was 80 years old when he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Reportedly it took about 45 days to get to Meribah. There, God told him to speak to the rock for water; but he was so frustrated with Israel that he beat the rock instead. So, God told Moses he wouldn’t enter the Promised Land. And 40 years later, Moses got Israel to the border; and he died. Think about that timeline. Moses was given an assignment by…..
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