Sin Nature

But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.  Romans 7:20  NASB Dwells in me – Since Augustine theologians have gotten a lot of mileage out of this verse.  It just seems so patently Platonic.  I am really two people; the one…

Something Cheerful

So today the pain in my left knee was as intense as I have ever had.  During the therapy it was all I could do to not writhe on the table.  Afterward as I was making my way home, I saw these.  A cheerful sign.  What God made is a beautiful creation, even if my…

The “Facts” about Faith

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—   1 John 1:1  NASB Heard/ seen/ touched – Don’t you just love John?  He’s so down to earth.  None of that mystical gibberish that we find in Paul (so confusing). …

Head Trip

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.   Jeremiah 29:13  NASB Seek/search – “The modern scholar thinks that he must find religious answers to his critical questions by means of peshat exegesis. In contrast, the sages believed that answers to critical questions should be proposed by means of derash.  Like…

Soul Man

For He has satisfied the [a]thirsty soul, and He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.  Psalm 107:9  NASB Soul – Did you see that tiny footnote before the word “thirsty”?  I hoped that the footnote would explain that the Hebrew word nepeš does not mean “soul,” ah, but not a chance.  The footnote merely says…

The Letter of the Law

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves,  Romans 2:14  NASB A law to themselves – We’ve spent a lot of time looking at Paul’s idea of nómos, or perhaps more accurately, his ideas about all the variations encompassed…

Not My Problem (2) Rewind

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  Romans 3:23  NASB Fall short – Maybe we’re just not prepared to deal with the implications of homelessness.  Maybe we just haven’t seen enough.  But I’ve seen a lot.  And I’m tired.  The more I travel, the more I see men and women…

Not My Problem (1) Rewind

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  Romans 3:23  NASB Fall short – Just how far do you think you’ll get with modern men and women by telling them that they are sinners?  Can I suggest that unless you are speaking to people who have some sort of connection with…

A Little Color

While my knee is so painful I can hardly stand (seeing the specialist on Tuesday), I needed something cheerful so I shot these on the dining room table.  Rosanne gets flowers every week from Asizze, a Moroccan, who stands in front of the local grocery nearly every day.  We have gotten to know him pretty…

The Cure

But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me [m]coveting of every kind; for apart [n]from the Law sin is dead.  Romans 7:8  NASB Is dead – Want the absolutely guaranteed way to stop sinning?  Die!  Problem solved.  Oh, wait.  That’s not very convenient.  Paul offers another “solution.”  Live apart from the Law.  Apart from the Law, sin is dead. …