The Truth About Prayer

Pray without ceasing  1 Thessalonians 5:17  NASB Pray – “We do not refuse to pray.  We merely feel that our tongues are tied, our minds inert, our inner vision dim, when we are about to enter the door that leads to prayer.  We do not refuse to pray; we abstain from it.  We ring the…

The Jewish Messiah

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever.  Amen.  Romans 9:5  ESV REVISED 13 March 2021 (my original views have changed dramatically) From their race – We have learned that Paul’s expression “to them belong” is a translation gloss.  The…

Heading Home

In two days I will be on my way home from Africa.  Been gone a long time.  Anxious to get back. Seeing leopards is quite rare these days.  We spotted this one in Botswana.

The Gospel for the Gentiles (3)

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21  ESV Give thanks – What does it mean to give thanks?  The answer has to come from a biblical point of view.   Paul…

The Gospel for the Gentiles (2)

 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21  ESV Did not honor – Paul delineates two critical failures of those whom God consigns to futility.  The first is that even though…

The Gospel for the Gentiles (1)

 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21  ESV Knew – Paul is acknowledged as the missionary to the Gentiles.  He was commissioned to take the good news to those outside…

Blame

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  John 9:2 ESV Who sinned – “Blaming others for our suffering is the world’s most tragic mistake.  One who blames another – no matter who – not only blemishes emuna, but forfeits the Divine intervention that he…

THE Word

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.  Psalm 147:11  ESV Steadfast love – Once again we discover David’s declaration that hesed is the fundamental description of what it means to have a relationship with YHWH.  The ESV uses “steadfast love.”  NASB attempts “lovingkindness.”  NKJV…

The Lesser of Two

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress.  Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”  2 Samuel 24:14  ESV The hand of man – Life often produces great distress.  It’s usually not accidental.  In fact, from…