Blessings

  • Chinese Job

    “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” James 1:2  NASB 1995 Various trials – How about the trial of living in poverty—for your entire life!  Of growing old with nothing but worn out shoes, a few sticks for a fire, an old coat, and a small bag of food.  Job was reduced…

  • Hebrew Political Correctness

    So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. John 8:36 NASB Free – Freedom is an important idea in the modern world, so important that there’s a blessing about it in one version of the Siddur.  Here’s the blessing from a Siddur: But here’s the same blessing in the orthodox Siddur Ashkenaz:…

  • The Consequences of Election

    “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” Amos 3:2 NASB Will punish – OK, so tell me honestly. If I offered you membership in a great club but the condition of membership was punishment every time you violated the agreement even in…

  • The Un-promised Land

    by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until your return to the ground. Genesis 3:19 Sweat – So, how’s it working out for you?  Is life a struggle?  Are you eating bread by the sweat of your face?  Adam did us no favor by disobeying God.  Today, humanity is part of the…

  • Rate of Return

    and all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you will listen to the voice of YHWH your God.   Deuteronomy 28:2 Overtake – There is no magic formula.  In a world dominated by self-reliance and self-control, realizing that there is no magic formula is critically important.  It’s so easy to be seduced…

  • Capital Gains

    and all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you will listen to the voice of YHWH your God.   Deuteronomy 28:2 Overtake – “God bless you.”  How often have you heard that?  Now, let me ask you, “What does it mean?”  Is it just an expression of wishful thinking?  Is it just…