"Sunday Sermon" Nehemiah was the cupbearer in the court of Persian Emperor Artaxerxes who reigned from 465-424 BC. A cupbearer was an important and trusted person. He was responsible for assuring that the king’s drinks were not poisoned. Nehemiah “the Cupbearer” was greatly rewarded for his diligence when he, and Ezra “the Scribe,” received … Continue reading “Then I Consulted with Myself” – Nehemiah 5:7
Superficial readers of the Bible sometime conclude that the God of the Old Testament is very different from the God of the New Testament. The Old Testament has a "God of wrath." The New Testament has a "God of love." God of Wrath Mark Twain described the Gods of the Old and New Testament as … Continue reading “A Tale of Two Gods” — Old and New Testaments
The restored gospel has an infinite variety of wonderful doctrines. One of those principles is the concept of “turning back.” Jesus proclaimed, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Lk. 9:62) "Remember Lot's Wife" The most famous example of “turning back” in the scriptures is … Continue reading Don’t Turn Back!
There once was a Prophet Balaam. He was famous through the Middle East. When hordes of Israelites fled Egypt and invaded the Middle East like locusts , they destroyed everything in their path. When they pitched their tents in the plains of Moab, King Balak was terrified that he and his people might be next. … Continue reading Balaam’s Talking Ass: The Funniest Scripture Story
We all have a fight/flight response. Whenever we are threatened, our adrenalin surges, and we either confront the threat or we run away. This is human nature. The Old Testament contains three memorable stories of people who unsuccessfully tried to run away and hide from the Lord. Adam and Eve Adam and Eve were the … Continue reading You Can’t Hide from the Lord: 4 Old Testament Stories
Rabbi Jacob Milgrom, Dean of Near Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley, concluded that Hosea 6:6 was the most important verse in “the Prophets” in the Old Testament. (See: “Jacob Milgrom,” Wikipedia.) I was surprised, because I had no clue about Hosea 6:6. But he may have been right. Hosea 6:6: “For I desired mercy, … Continue reading Is Hosea 6:6 the Most Important Old Testament?
I learned in church as a child that Goliath was about 10 feet tall. I was impressed! According to the King James Version (KJV), based on the Hebrew Masoretic Text, Goliath was “six cubits and a span” (1 Sam. 17:4). “Cubit” comes from Latin meaning “elbow.” A cubit is the length from the tip of … Continue reading How Tall Was Goliath — Really? 10 Feet or 7 Feet?
We all have a fight/flight response. Whenever we are threatened our adrenalin surges and we either confront the threat or we run away. This is human nature. The Bible contains three memorable stories of people who unsuccessfully tried to run away and hide from the Lord. Adam and Eve Hiding Among the Trees Adam and Eve were … Continue reading You Can’t Hide from the Lord
Quotes on Friendship C.S. Lewis, British scholar, author, and Christian apologist, declared: “To the ancients, friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves: the crown of life and the school of virtue. The modern world, in comparison, ignores it.” (Four Loves, p 87) King Solomon “The Wise” wrote: “A friend loveth at … Continue reading Sacred Friendship – David and Jonathan
Moses instructed Joshua, his military commander, to prepare the Israelites for battle against Amalek and his people. While Joshua fought in the plains, Moses oversaw the battle from a hill top. “I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.” Aaron and Hur accompanied Moses. Whenever Moses … Continue reading The Role of Counselors – Moses, Aaron, and Hur (Exodus 17:8-13)
The London Edition 