Browsed by
Category: Uncategorized

A Most Unusual Servant

A Most Unusual Servant

One of the greatest of the ancient Hebrew prophets was a man named Isaiah.  Chapter 52 of the book of the Bible that bears his name introduces us to someone popularly known as “the suffering servant.”  He doesn’t start out that way. In verse 13, we learn that this servant is unique: “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”  Prudent (judicious, wise, shrewd).  Exalted (elevated, of greatly superior status). Extolled (praised, glorified, lauded). Very high (extraordinarily or…

Read More Read More

Let Save And Live

Let Save And Live

The venerable phrase, “Live and let live” is a familiar one.  It should be, having been around for about four hundred years [originally a Dutch proverb, it’s first appearance in English dates from around 1622].  The idea seems to have been, ‘live as you see fit and allow others to do the same.’  Expressed as a negative, it would be, ‘Don’t interfere with others, lest they interfere with you’ or ‘Leave others alone, so they’ll leave YOU alone.‘  It is not the Cold War’s strategic…

Read More Read More

The Last Shall Be First

The Last Shall Be First

This is my 36thcolumn for this blog (Correspondent for Christ).  For some time now, I have ended most of them with a simple list called, “Some Key Truths.” It’s intended to reinforce the themes that I write about and as a reference for those looking for more information from the Bible on God’s plan for saving people.  It can also serve as a memory aid for those who want to share their newfound faith, but don’t yet know God’s word well enough to…

Read More Read More

Wishes, Dreams And Substance

Wishes, Dreams And Substance

At special times such as celebrating one’s birthday or favorite holidays, the subject of wishes arises of itself.  Those close to us are suddenly keen to know what would please us—what we might like, feel want of or desire.  Some ask our preferences because they are interested in our thoughts on how to enhance the pleasure of the whole family or group on the occasion at hand.  Such curiosity is somewhat rare.  Human beings as a rule, are not often asked for their wishes…

Read More Read More

Death Turns The Tables

Death Turns The Tables

Jesus of Nazareth was known for shaking things up.  He had a positive gift for “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable” [a phrase credited to humorist Finley Dunne, in regard to the role of the newspaper].  Jesus turned conventional wisdom on its head all right, and he certainly knew how to speak bluntly, as when He told the religious leaders of His day: “…Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly…

Read More Read More

Love At First Sight

Love At First Sight

A question often asked in romance novels, smarmy films, “speed dating” clubs, and everywhere bad pick up lines are sold is, “Do you believe in love at first sight?”  And while this question is asked in restaurants and bars all over town, by people of varying motivations, you can be pretty sure of one thing: the questioner is desperate, deluded, or disingenuous. Typically, the individual making this inquiry is either experiencing a psychotic break with reality, is already in love—with themself—or has…

Read More Read More

Bedtime Story For Grownups

Bedtime Story For Grownups

What follows is a bedtime story of a different kind—a bedtime story for grownups.  It is a true story, though the events occurred long ago. Background: history records that ten of the Hebrews’ twelve tribes had split into a northern kingdom, which called itself Israel.  The remaining two tribes comprised the southern kingdom of Judah, after the patriarch of the same name.  Judah’s homeland was called Judea and his descendants were known as “Jews.”  The great city of Jerusalem, in which stood the fabulous…

Read More Read More

Going By The Book

Going By The Book

At the risk of dating myself, I will tell you that I have always loved books.  As a young boy, I once entered a summer reading contest at our local library.  My sweet and patient mother (God rest her soul) walked me down there again and again, across the railroad tracks and over a bridge spanning the river, so that we could return one armful and pick up another.  I won the contest easily, reading well over 300 titles that summer.  [Admittedly, children’s books…

Read More Read More

Truer Words

Truer Words

Are the four gospels recorded in the Bible actual eyewitness accounts of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as they claim?  The language itself argues that they are indeed.  I invite you to examine with an open mind, clues found in the words used in the last (24th) chapter of the Gospel of Luke, to describe the events that transpired after Jesus’ burial.  It is both illustrative of and representative of what you will find in any of the four…

Read More Read More

The Bridge Is Out

The Bridge Is Out

Not to bore you with a lot of history (heaven forbid), but humanity split with its Creator a long time ago.  The breakup came over the issue of sin.  The Creator called for its avoidance by the total abstinence method.  The created disagreed, preferring to explore the wonders of depravity, plumb the depths of misery and experience the thrills & chills of death and disaster.  There you have it—irreconcilable differences. For those of you playing the home version of the game, sin is lawlessness.   It’s…

Read More Read More