“Riposo a casa” said the banner hanging from the balcony on Via Goito in Parma. “I rest at home.” The world on hold. Annoying, disturbing, disruptive, perhaps deadly, we experienced the results of a pandemic of fear. Isolation is not a fundamental human condition. In fact, enforced isolation is a method used in torture. Brené…
Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16 NASB Who fear God – Although you won’t see it in the English translation, this phrase (“who fear God”) does not contain God’s name. It uses the word ʾĕlōhîm, the general classification of “god.” Perhaps that’s not…
Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. Exodus 2:23 NASB Cried out– Do you suffer from the Egyptian disease? Does the Church in the…
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Luke 12:5 NASB Fear Him– Yeshua, the Platonist. No, maybe he’s a Stoic. Don’t worry about what can happen to you while you live. Worry about what can happen to…
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NASB With you– It’s important to know that God has not given up on us. “I am with you,”…
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NASB Fear– Actually, I’m not afraid in the usual sense of the word. I’m not even afraid to die. …
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation [First, an apology. Since the death of Rosanne’s mother, our lives have been in continuing chaos. We have been staying in Rosanne’s mother’s condo in Florida. That is part of a trust…
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.1 John 4:18 NASB Involves punishment– What does fear have to do with punishment? If we can’t answer that question, then we probably can’t understand what John is trying to communicate about…
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.1 John 4:18 NASB Casts out– No, we’re not ready to examine the first part of John’s thought yet. You know, that part about “no fear.” We will get there, in a Hebrew…
“ If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” Genesis 31:42 NASB Fear – We are a fragile audience. At least that’s what the…
