I admit that I am not a huge fan of the Gospel of John. As eyewitness accounts go, his is among the strangest. Some commentators say that John’s command of Greek (the language of the New Testament) is fairly basic, his vocabulary, grammar and syntax unimpressive. This is hardly a shock, since John was a fisherman by trade, who, along with his brother James, learned the family business from dear old dad. John was also the youngest of the twelve apostles. His telling of Jesus’…
The Bible book of Acts tells the story of a man in his forties who had been crippled from birth. He was being carried to a place of prayer, when he saw two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John. The crippled man begged them for something small and temporary. He asked them for money. But as He so often does, God had a much better gift in mind for this disabled man—faith to be saved and, healing for his body. “Then Peter said, Silver…
Excavations for the new luxury high-rise near the waterfront unearthed something frightening—a UXB (unexploded bomb), relic of an all-but-forgotten war. It was a rusty, musty thing, with a small portion of one side exposed and part of one directional vane showing. Despite having been buried for the longest time, it looked to be in remarkably good condition. The workmen took no chances, scrambling out of the foundation works, taking to their heels and scattering in all directions. Construction was halted immediately, both by…
I have heard it said (and do for the most part believe) that no one is ever argued into the kingdom of God. If this were not so, the kingdom would be populated mostly with losers—frustrated people who are there chiefly because they do not perform well in debates. If verbally outmaneuvered in front of others, they may also have felt foolish, publicly humiliated, resentful, even angry. Why were they unable to spot and evade the subtle intellectual traps set for them…
You are hereby invited to participate in an informal and unscientific survey. Please raise your hand if you: Think that the world is getting noticeably better with each passing day. Believe that those in authority have everything under control. Feel that the world is growing steadily safer and less violent. Sense that mental health, sound judgment, and common sense are surging. Perceive that humanity is becoming more decent and virtuous all the time. Find that it’s easier and easier to trust…
In the final week of His earthly life, Jesus Christ took a few private questions from His inner circle, regarding the future. Two of the three questions His disciples posed concerned the signs that would herald His return to earth and the end of the world as they knew it (Matthew 24:3). Jesus ran through the signs and said this about the timing of His second coming: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth…
Jesus of Nazareth told simple stories to communicate profound spiritual truths. One of the most familiar and endearing examples is the parable of the prodigal son. It is a tale of self-destruction and redemption, told in two parts. Part one goes like this: And [Jesus] said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days…
If Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth, as His followers claim, what’s keeping Him? I mean, if He’s really going to do it, what’s He waiting for? He’s had a couple thousand years to keep His promise, so why hasn’t He returned? The answer lies in the absolute unwillingness of God. The Apostle Peter introduces the subject this way: “This second epistle [letter], beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may…
It is always interesting to ask people what they believe about divine judgment. Will it happen? Whom will it involve? How will it work? What will be the results? Does the prospect concern you? To hear many people talk, the answer to this last question is clearly, “no.” Why? Because, “I’m a good person” [according to current societal norms, but they blow with the wind so, stay tuned for updates]. Because, when I selectively compare myself to the worst human beings, I actually look pretty good…
Most people like a good story, if it is not too long, and entertains, educates or inspires. For this column, I have chosen one such story from the Bible. The tale unfolds in only six verses (Numbers 21:4-9), but is full of meaning and drama. I selected it because of its relevance to your life and its importance to your future. Here it is: And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul…