No More Sun God

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Psalm 150:1 NASB Praise – One of the consistent themes of pagan worship is the worship of the sun. In fact, the Christian idea of Sunday worship is actually derived from this pagan practice, not, as most preachers suggest, from the…

Oswald’s Insight

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 NASB Free – A favorite verse of those who desire unfettered living, pastors are quick to point out that “free” doesn’t mean “no obligations.” In the Roman world, free would indeed entail the right to do as I please, but that…

H.A.L.T. (4)

Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ISV Tired – Dead tired. Exhausted. 3 AM in the morning. But I can’t sleep. My body clock is off by 13 hours. Who said jet travel was wonderful? Maybe there’s a good reason for crossing the oceans by ship. “Tired” is…

H.A.L.T. (3)

How lonely sits the city that was full of people! She has become like a widow who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a forced laborer! Lamentations 1:1 NASB Lonely – This is the really big one, isn’t it? Lonely. Badad. To be alone, by…

Addendum to H.A.L.T.

After Delbert   His melody bloodied my soul The words were arrows of despair The rhythm brought only tears No agony relieved my care I shook, unable to withstand The tide of helplessness That carried me from promised land To truth I could not bear   “I never lost you. You were never mine.”  …

H.A.L.T. (2)

You, even You, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? Psalm 76:7 NASB Angry – How long is your nose? God’s nose is very long indeed. His ‘erek ‘appayim (long before anger) is one of the principle characteristics of His self-definition (Exodus 34:6). Anger kills. God…

H.A.L.T. (1)

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalm 107:9 NASB Hungry – Every addict knows the warning signs. Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired. H.A.L.T. The lethal combination of temptation. Any one of these emotional and physical states can bring about the desire for self-medication, the…