The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away (Mt. 13.24-25 NIV). Bob Dylan’s Infidels holds a message for today. Jesus, in Mt. 13. 24-30 points out (see vss. 37-43), that in the expression of the Kingdom on earth, many individuals feign righteousness. … Continue reading Bob Dylan: Infidels
The doctrines of Calvinism have a way of both wounding and healing the human heart. They are sword and balm, stumbling block and safety net, thundercloud and rainbow. The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) once described Calvinism as a lamb in wolf’s skin: “cruel in the phrases,” but “full of consolation for the suffering individual.”… The Five Not-Points of Calvinism — Desiring God Continue reading The Five Not-Points of Calvinism
This reblogged post has some English grammar problems. I was going to correct it, but, I believe readers of English can figure out what he is saying. Aubrey identifies some not-so-obvious translation issues that plague the modern church. The bible is both very simple and complex (in parts) simultaneously. To understand biblical concepts takes effort. I believe God grants understanding to those who ask, seek, … Continue reading Mike Aubrey’s Concerns
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1Cor. 11.25b-26 ESV). Christians can become overly introspective during the Lord’s Supper because of Paul’s warning in the next verses about observing the rite: Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of … Continue reading Whom we Remember and Proclaim
C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters was the first book by him that I read. I was a young Christian and wasn’t always sure where Lewis was going with his sarcasm. I finally got the gist of what Lewis was doing in this classic. The last sentence of this review is instructive and raises a question: does the devil put things into our mind or does … Continue reading ‘The Screwtape Letters’
At death we will see our friend and Lover face to face: Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2Cor. 5.8 ESV). Additionally, other believers will welcome us as well: People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the … Continue reading Gathered to God and Our People
Peter Gurry exposes a truth by careful reading what sources actually said. It is a fallacy to believe that the resultant major N.T. readings preserved today accurately reflect ancient majority readings. There are too many variables to accept the stated theorem: “A theoretical presumption indeed remains that a majority of extant documents is more likely to represent a majority of ancestral documents at each stage … Continue reading The Reality of Asymmetrical Textual Transmission
The main reason for doubt of the letter 2 Peter is because it seems so different from 1 Peter. I have argued elsewhere that 1 Peter was composed largely by Silvanus (Silas) the prophet (see Acts 15.32). Peter indicates that he wrote (or authorized) the words of 1 Peter in 1 Pet. 5.12: By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written … Continue reading Why 2 Peter is Canonical
C.S. Lewis on the Decline of Christianity — Ad Fontes Continue reading Syrupy Christianity vs. The Real Thing
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Phil. 4.4 ESV) Rejoice! How Can You Be Happy on Command? — ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry Continue reading Rejoice in the Lord Always
And the LORD said to him [Elijah], “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. (1Ki 19:15) Hazael was a ruled Aram-Damascus (Syria), a kingdom located to the northeast of Judah and Israel from ca. 842—800 BC1. He appears in […] Hazael: An Archaeological Biography — Bible Archaeology Report Continue reading Hazael: An Archaeological Biography
Be sure not to miss the comments of the post. Also, this post links to a previous discussion of 1Jn 2.23 (at that verse). The link, with its comments, discusses the longer reading of 1Jn.2.23 and 1Jn. 3.1. My position, on these two verses, is acceptance of the longer readings in both texts rather than the clauses being explanatory additions. The KJV misses these two … Continue reading FOMO: The “Fear of Missing Out”
The Jews who rejected the Messiah set up their new religion apart from and in rejection to the signs God gave as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The words of Amos probably refer to this time: The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done…The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a … Continue reading The Better Plea: “Give Me Jesus and the Apostles”
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before (NLT) In the case of choosing an English translation that reflects what the Greek text says, the New Living Translation does a good job rendering 1Thess. 4.11. Of course evaluating translations can only be done on a case-by-case basis. However, it … Continue reading Aspiring to The Quiet Life-1Thess. 4.11
Summary: Two rare coins dating back to the Jewish revolts call into question the Roman narrative that all Jewish communities north of Jerusalem were completely destroyed and uninhabited after AD 73. So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them,… Jewish Revolt Coins Rewrite Roman History — Patterns of Evidence Continue reading History is Written by the Conquerors-and Only Questioned Later by Archeology
Even though I have posted viewpoints from sources enamored with Thomas Aquinas, I have strong reservations about most of what he says. I view Thomas as deeply flawed for the most part. Not every repost that I share on this site has my full support in all aspects. It’s Worth Remembering, Aquinas Was Thoroughly Catholic – YouTube Continue reading Don’t Swim the Tiber
No matter how organized your files, its good to have back-up that doesn’t depend on battery power or connectivity. Even more, dedication to knowing God’s word internally, brings understanding and helps correlate other biblical writings during reading seamlessly, and, in an organic way. Here are some interesting tips and methods some have used to aid recall. I have stored up your word in my heart … Continue reading The Internal Data Storage Library-Memorization Techniques
In Levant archeology, one way to determine if the habitation in border areas in question was Israeli or Philistine, is to sift the finds for pig bones. Israel habitations, overwhelmingly kept Kosher, and lack the evidence of pig use. Another distinction of Israeli habitations is plain decoration. This relates to not making images of animals or persons either in drawing or statuary, since, it opened … Continue reading Jewish Decorative Selection
There is no good reason not to believe that Paul wrote Titus and 1&2 Timothy. Yet, some scholars, on the basis of the size and pagination of very early codices, conclude that the pastorals were not included in collections of Paul’s writings. It seems that the production of books (codices) were commissioned by people or churches who had the means to have them constructed. In … Continue reading Paul’s Pastoral Epistles
Logic is simply the science of reasoning and argumentation. In essence, the study of logic is concerned with inferences: what conclusions we should—or shouldn’t—draw from one or more premises (initial assumptions or claims). Logic distinguishes between good inferences (i.e., reliable forms of reasoning) and bad inferences (i.e., flawed forms of reasoning). James Anderson – How is Logic Evidence for God? Continue reading Logic Transcends Materiality
This clear explication by Mark Jones shows the bigger picture of the purpose of God in Christ. For me, it has resolved some outstanding issues of the Trinity. The Triunity of God has always been revealed from the first pages of scripture (Gen. 1.2 – the Spirit, Ge. 2.4-Yahweh God). It is on the basis of Christ that God will judge the world: Moreover, the … Continue reading The Revelation of God in Christ-Mark Jones
Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!—For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal;Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way;But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. Art … Continue reading A Psalm of Life
Here is a nice write up of historical evidence of Daniel and his text (the book of “Daniel” in the bible). I firmly support the 6th c. BCE timeframe of both the miraculous history and prophecies of the book. In addition to the following reblogged post, I add two of my own lines of evidence for Daniel’s authenticity. 1. Jesus would not have referenced Daniel … Continue reading Top Ten Discoveries Related to the Book of Daniel
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