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 →
Text for the Week: The Beatitudes part 2
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 →
Text for the Week: Jesus’ Call to Repentance
Scripture: Matthew 4:12-17 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the... Continue Reading →
Lenten Devotional Week 6
Scripture Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Psalm 96:1 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 Reflection To worship is... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Worshiping
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 →
Lenten Devotional Week 5: Guidance
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 →
Text for the Week: On Guidance
Scripture: Acts 15:6-21 6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. 7 After much debate, Peter stood and addressed them, “Fellow believers, you know that, early on, God chose me from among you as the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and come to believe. 8 God, who knows... Continue Reading →
A Good God Goes to War: Who do we know?
I have come to the end of this little series with what was for me the beginning, appropriate that you are experiencing this in a different order from me. The idea for this series began as I thought about the themes in the season 6 episode A Good Man Goes to War where the Doctor... Continue Reading →
A Good God Goes to War: Alone and Unarmed
One of the most difficult elements in Doctor Who is the person of The Master/Missy (I'm going to use Missy because that is how the character is identified in the episode I'm reflecting on), this character is a longtime enemy of the Doctor and someone who seems to understand the Doctor and yet represent everything... Continue Reading →
A Good God Goes to War: When Violence Becomes Necessary
When the BBC brought back Doctor Who in 2006 the first episode revolves around an invasion of London by sentient plastic. The episode Rose was meant to have undertones reminding us how our commitment to petroleum based products is destroying us, which is explained by the living plastic as it discusses why it is here.... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 