Traitors for Christ
When I die…and here’s hopin’ it isn’t too soon :-), I hope nothing even close to these words are said of my passing: [Jehoram] was thirty- two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret (2 Chronicles 21:20, English Standard Version, emphasis…
Ran into this during today’s reading (wise words from Solomon): “…for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind” (2 Ch 6:30, ESV, in part). The “you,” of course, being God. As I’ve often said, including to employees at work, you can comment on what you observe and how it affects you,…
During a Sabbath visit to a synagogue in Antioch, the apostle Paul notes of David: And when he had removed [Saul], he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will’…
Although it’s been a while since I read these words while going through all 66 this year, they have stuck with me: Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass (Joshua 21:45, English Standard Version). This could not be any…
As seems so often true, if I really like a television series it only lasts one season (or less). Firefly fits that category perfectly (although I don’t know if I actually watched it while it was first airing). The good news is that it was followed up by a tremendously entertaining movie, Serenity. (If you like…
In the first chapter of today’s Bible reading I ran into this interesting section: 9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness….
As I continue this year’s trek through all 66, I ran into the incident where, when asked by Moses to allow the Israelites to go worship in the desert for three days, the Pharaoh wasn’t so inclined. Not only did he say no, he decided to double down: 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the…
As I continue my blessed journey through all 66 books in the Bible, I ran into what I thought could be a humorous example of why you want to make sure whether what you are reading is normative or descriptive. What is normative? Per my Mac’s dictionary: normative |ˈnôrmətiv| adjective formal establishing, relating to, or…
Just imagine you are Abimelech. A rich guy comes into your territory with a cute sister (although she had to be pretty old) and you take her for your wife. Win! However… But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the…
You were promised by God to Abraham. How do those words speak to your heart? Do they make it “jump for joy”? Doesn’t the idea that the Most High Himself spoke of you cause you excitement…at least a little bit? Or are you a bit incredulous and need hard “head” proof before you are going…
This year I am reading the entire Bible again (you should too), and yesterday the flood subsided. Afterward, our Lord tells Noah: 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of…
So, as I was reading through today’s verses (reading through all 66 in 2012), it hit me. Back in Genesis 18:22-33, Abraham tries to get Sodom and Gomorrah off the hook, actually (respectfully) arguing a bit with God about it (although notice his concern for God’s reputation). However, in Genesis 22:1-14 we hear God tell…