After the Israelites were led out of their bondage in Egypt, the Lord had them go to Mount Sinai to receive the Law to show them how they were to live as His people. Then, in Exodus 24, Moses took the blood of a sacrifice and sprinkled it on the people to seal the covenant between them and God. They …
Monthly Archives: February 2017
February 23rd is the Feast Day of St. Polycarp where his life and martyrdom is remembered. Polycarp was a friend of the Apostle John and of the early Church Father Ignatius. In fact, Polycarp was appointed as the Bishop of Smyrna by John himself. Like Ignatius and Clement of Rome, Polycarp was part of the second generation of Christians who had …
In Matthew 5:38-48, which is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we find ourselves again talking about perfection. This text culminates in Jesus’ statement, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” For how can we approach our perfect heavenly Father if we ourselves are not perfect? How can we stand in the presence of the Holy Lord …
The following is a chapter from my book To the End of the Age. There are three “guiding passages” from the Bible, followed by a discussion about how the theme of “suffering and comfort” relates to them. Guiding Passages Job 38:1-11 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without …
We continue today with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-37). Last Sunday we talked about perfection as we examined Matthew 5:13-20. God’s Law demands perfection in all things. It demands that we be holy as He is holy. Jesus ended by saying, “… unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom …
I’m often asked about how to go about reading the Bible and how to better understand and interpret it. So, I’ve put together the following summary of recommendations and tips which I hope will be helpful. I’ve also included a few links below that lead to additional information. Recommendations for Interpretation First, remember the “Christian Story.” That is, as you read …
Matthew’s Gospel, beginning in chapter five, contains Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins with the Beatitudes where he says that blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and those who are persecuted and …
My first novel is now available (Amazon print edition link, Kindle edition link). By the way, if you have “Kindle Unlimited” from Amazon, then it should be free as part of that service. In the past, I’ve enjoyed reading novels such as True Grit and King Solomon’s Mines. They’re filled with a sense of adventure and a mission or goal …