Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the... Continue Reading →
This post contains some references to sexual assault and some might find it disturbing. Recently, I have been thinking about the story the Roman historian Plutarch tells that the night before he crossed the Rubicon Julius Caesar had a dream in which his mother "submitted" to his sexual penetration. To us this sounds like a... Continue Reading →
I was asked this week whether or not the bread that Jesus used at the Last Supper was leavened or not. And while we understand that Jesus' death coincided with the Feast of Passover (or Unleavened Bread) the answer to this question is not straightforward. The reason is that in the four explicit descriptions of... Continue Reading →
I was asked today if Matthew 1:25 impacts the Roman Catholic claim of Mary's perpetual virginity. And when I'm asked these types of questions I like to answer them here because I figure if one person is willing to ask me this there are probably others who are thinking about it. If you simply want... Continue Reading →
It amazes me how compartmentalized my brain can be at times. I have read The Chronicles of Narnia several times and now that I am reading these books with my kids I like to stop and point out some of my favorite quotes or highlights. One of which is when Aslan says in The Horse... Continue Reading →
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops... Continue Reading →
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. 2 He taught them, saying: 3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad. 5 “Happy are people who... Continue Reading →
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.... Continue Reading →
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it... Continue Reading →
Scripture And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 