Blinders

For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.  Romans 7:5  NIV Aroused by the law – Did the Law make me sin?  Some might draw that conclusion when they read Paul’s difficult analogy in chapter seven of…

Evangelizing the Jews

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”  Romans 11:26  NASB Will be saved – Theresa Newell’s doctoral paper entitled “Preparing the Church to Evangelize Jewish People” is, unfortunately, a typical example of the Christian Church’s “manifest destiny” narrative…

Logistical Nightmares

And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.   Joshua 5:12  NASB No longer had – As you may know, whenever I…

The Empty Church

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  Hebrews 10:25 ESV To meet together – Christianity employs this verse and others like it to proclaim that the Bible commands us to join in holy fellowship in the Church.  The…

Problems With Stripe

Greetings to each of you, Despite enormous efforts by Mark, we have been unable to resolve continuing issues with STRIPE. Mainly it has to do with the way that Stripe handles donations. In order for me to provide a tax donation document at the end of the year (as required by law), I have to…

Left Behind

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household:  Exodus 1:1 NASB Who came – The exodus began with Abraham.  It won’t end until the kingdom of God is established on earth.  You and I are in that traveling community, the ones who…

Un-Apologetics

Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.  Acts 17:29  NASB Formed by human skill and thought – What is apologetics?  Answer:  apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, “speaking in defense”) is the religious discipline of defending religious doctrines through…

Bubba Gump

Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.  Leviticus 11:12  NASB Is detestable – From the JPS Torah Commentary on Leviticus: “All those water creatures that do not swim by the usual means of fins but, instead, crawl are considered impure.”  Bubba Gump shrimp are on the list.  Why?…

Fear of Dying

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4  NIV No more death – Are you afraid to die?  Before you answer with the “hoped-for next world eternal existence of the soul” paradigm, remember that dying…

Solving the Noah Puzzle

If there is a man who sleeps with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them must be put to death, they have brought their own deaths upon themselves.  Leviticus 20:11  NASB His father’s nakedness – Remember that very strange story about Noah getting drunk?  It’s in Genesis 9:22-23.[1]  If we don’t understand the Hebrew…