Kingdom Passports (1)

But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her.   The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah   Psalm 87:5-6  NASB Born there – Football in Italy is a religion (that’s “soccer” for Americans).  The rivalry between teams is…

“And in the End”

A good name is better than fragrant oil, and the day of death than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7: 1 JPS Day of death – “Many individuals report that they rarely think of their own death but are obsessed with the idea, and the terror, of transiency.  Every pleasant moment is corroded by the…

The End of the Game

A good name is better than good oil, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.  Ecclesiastes 7:1  NASB Day of one’s death – Qohelet (Koheleth, “the Teacher”) is an empirical pessimist.  That alone made the decision to place this work within the canon quite controversial.  It’s virtually impossible that the material was written by…

The Sleeper Awakens

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB My – Do you think we’ve plumbed this verse?  Is there nothing more to mine here?  Well, maybe we…

The Curse Before Birth

But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.  Genesis 25:22  NASB Why am I? – What happens to us before we are born?  We usually believe that gestation is the perfect world of complete need satisfaction.  Helpless, that’s true, but…

Birth Pangs (2)

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”  Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Birth is painful.  If you’re the mother, I don’t have to tell you that, but I’m not talking about birthing.  I’m talking about being born.  It’s a blessing that…

Birth Pangs (1)

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”  Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Genesis chapter 1 is undoubtedly the least understood and most misunderstood chapter in all the Bible.  Oh, it’s so familiar to us that we think we know what…

Rule Number 1

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job 1:21  NASB Naked – Job was right.  We come into this world with nothing.  We leave with nothing.  What happens in between birth and death is the interaction of the…

The Cost of Leadership

And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? Numbers 11:11 NASB Burden– For this investigation, we need to read the whole account:  “Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of…

Time Enough

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. Romans 13:11 NASB To awaken – Today is my birthday. In just twelve more years I might be ready to lead people out of Egypt. But I…