My Disappointment I was disappointed to read a post on the social media page of a popular Christian author. He wrote on January 9. For logos to be effective in your life, you must intentionally mix it with faith (Heb 4:2). Rhema, in contrast, comes with such vibrancy that it often releases faith with its delivery. Hebrews 4:2 says: (ESV) For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. (NASB) For indeed we have had good news preached […]
Is the Antichrist gay?
Someone recently heard a preacher on the radio. The preacher used the passage in Daniel 11 to prove that the Antichrist will be a homosexual. What does Daniel 11 say? Click this link for entire chapter on Bible Gateway. Let’s read Daniel 11: 37 in a few English translations for comparison of interpretation. (KJV) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (NASB 2020) And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor […]
The Star of Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1,2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” Matthew tells us that after Jesus’ birth, magoi (magicians or astologers?) from the anatolon (east) had seen an astera at its anatole (rising in the east) and came to Jerusalem in order to proskynesai (worship) the one who was born basileus ton Ioudaion (king of […]
Should I live however the #*@% I want to live?
Recently, a medical colleague asked me if I thought that vaccination cards were the Mark of the Beast. I knew that this was a reference to Revelation 13:11-18. Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the […]
How to Beat Your Slaves
I have been told that the Bible endorses slavery and that it allows a master to beat a slave nearly to death. This statement did not come from someone who actually reads the Bible beyond a verse out of context from time to time. So I wanted to take a look. I started with the Christian Scriptures (the teachings of Jesus and letters of the Apostles). There are at least five passages that came to light. 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 Ephesians 6:5-9 Colossians 3:22-4:1 Philemon 8-21 1 Peter 2:18-21 These passages are directed toward anyone that is already a slave […]
How to Face a Jealous God
“If jealousy is a deadly sin, isn’t God sinful, since He is a jealous God?” Premise One: God is a Jealous God. Nahum 1: 2 tells us, “A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.” [a]Scripture quotations are from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 (The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA) This is verified in Exodus 20:5. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity […]
How to answer, “Religions are myths.”
One of my neighbors recently posted her advice for everyone to live without religion. Here is what she posted: “Religions are myths. Love yourself and be kind. My inspiring thought for today is that we only can judge ourselves. There were no brutal blood sacrifices needed to make you whole. You’re a whole person just as you are. Live in that freeing truth. You are not the chief of sinners, but youve (sic) made mistakes, easily corrected. Live lawfully, kindly, and lovingly. You don’t need a book to tell you right from wrong. You are good. You are worthy. […]
How to Construct a Worldview
While reading Matthew 5:15 it occurred to me that in the same way that a lamp beneath a basket is obscured, that if a person was under a basket he would not clearly see the world outside the basket. He would experience obstructive filtering of external light. [a]While I do not think that this is the intent of this biblical passage, it provided me with a mental picture to serve as an illustration. Only bits and pieces of the outside environment would pass through a woven basket. If you were inside the basket, you may glimpse a bit of […]
Prophets of a Future Not Our Own
Bishop Kenneth Edward Untener penned a homily for John Cardinal Dearden, Archbishop of Detroit, to deliver on the occasion of the Mass for Deceased Priests, October 25, 1979. This poetic reflection, “We are Prophets of a Future Not Our Own,” was taken from Untener’s text of Cardinal Dearden’s message. As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero,[a]On 24 March 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero delivered a sermon in which he called on Salvadoran soldiers, as Christians, to obey God’s higher order and to stop carrying out the government’s … Continue reading Bishop Untener included it in […]
Why does God hate people with handicaps?
Was the Leviticus meme written by someone completely ignorant about the Bible? …or was this anti-Christian meme written by someone who deliberately wanted to change the real meaning of the Scripture? Here is an example of the Leviticus meme: Leviticus 21 contains no reference to God’s hatred of anyone. Leviticus 21 does not refer to the Church. Leviticus 21 does not forbid persons with handicaps from attending or ministering in Church. Leviticus 21 does not apply to everyone. It applies only to a few specific members of the family of Levi. The name of Levi is in our name […]