I learned last night of the passing of one of my junior high teachers. He didn’t die recently. Someone just happened to mention him in a Facebook discussion. He did die young – not much older than I am now. I…
What a Difference a Few Years Make
Islam is 600 years younger than Christianity. It may not be surprising that Islamic theology in relationship to the Qur’an is 600 years (or maybe less) behind Christianity’s relationship to the Bible. Much has been made of President Obama’s inclusion of the…
Of the Increase of His Government
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of…
The Labels I Wear
Not infrequently, people ask me what variety of Christian I am. Some of them know why Christians have identifying labels and others don’t know the reasons behind them, but they all know that the labels are there. I have been…
What Must We Do?
The previous post was entitled, “What Must I Do?”. While still looking at the same Gospel reading, Matthew 25:31-46 (which I will not quote in full again – see the previous post or Bible Gateway or your YouVersion app or…
What Must I Do?
In the cycle of the Church Year, the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent and the start of the new cycle is the Sunday of the of Christ the King. It serves as a bit of a review of what we’ve…
Bargaining and Wrestling
The biblical patriarch Jacob was opportunist. He took advantage of his brother Esau’s weak character and bought the birthright inheritance on the cheap for a bowl of stew. He took advantage of his father Isaac’s poor sensory perception and got…
Hallmark 1, Church 0
Father’s Day is a wonderful celebration that was invented to complement the much older celebration of Mother’s Day. It provides an excellent opportunity to preach sermons on the importance of fathers and biblical family leadership. The idea was introduced in 1910…
Shavuot and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
Sunday is the feast of Pentecost. It is the celebration each year of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church fifty days after the Resurrection. However, Pentecost didn’t originate in the New Testament. That’s just the Greek name…