SHEEP Jesus had compassion on the crowds that followed him because they were sheep that had no shepherds (Mt.9: 36). We of course have moved a notch higher. We now blame the sheep, namely the church and not the shepherds...
May 2008 Archives
VENGEANCE It is written: “Vengeance is mine; I shall repay, said the Lord” (Deut.32: 35; Ro.12: 19). The Book of Esther justifies vengeance for some and not for others? Take Esther and Mordecai in contrast to Vashti and Haman. How...
LAND OF ANGELS A mother was asked how her son was doing in his marriage. Her answer was that he was married to a lazy woman. And how was her daughter doing? She had a wonderful husband and she does...
VIRTUE Jesus once used a Gentile to teach his people what real faith was like (Mt.8: 10). The Book of Esther uses a Gentile Queen to teach us the meaning of virtue. It was not Esther a Jewess but Vashti...
ESTHER Esther was and still is a popular person to read about. In our time, she would be a Hollywood idol. In her time, women were like toys men played with. Her beauty and intelligence were desirable qualities. Hiding her...
HE FEARED The “He” is a reference to Jesus and the verb “feared” refers to his last prayer in Gethsemane and the last prayer was recaptured by the writer in the letter to the Hebrews (5: 7). The Greek text...
SOPHISTICATION Lately we have been made aware more keenly of elites and common people. This is not a new idea. There have always been elites and simple folk. What is tragic is that the simple people have created the elites,...
HATRED The Book of Esther is classic on “hate.” Hate obliterates purpose and vision. It disables the very best of us. And it is most harmful with those that exercise influence and power over others. It begins as a...
ARROGATION In a state of arrogation we make unwarranted claims to something we do not deserve nor did we earn it or qualified for it. It is an arrogant or haughty attitude that is appalling to the one that...
TIME How does God measure time? It is most definitely not the way we do. The Bible has some interesting hints as to the way God treats time. For one writer, “one day for God can be a thousand...
PERGAMUM The third message of Jesus addressed the leader and congregation in the city of Pergamum. A wise Attalian king had willed his city to Rome and Rome rewarded it with a governor seat and made it first in...
INDOOR CHRISTIANS The founder of Christianity commanded, “Go you therefore” (Mt.28: 19). Last weekend, I realized something I should have noticed fifty years ago; namely, that we have become “Indoor Christians.” The Commandment now means: “Come therefore and be...
NEW JESUS Why are we surprised when we hear that there is a new version of Jesus or a new religion? From the inception of Christianity, some have stripped Jesus of his divinity and others of his humanity. Particularly,...
BALANCING LIFE Our Pastor touched on “Balancing love or truth.” It is a tremendous word. It can be a blessing but also a curse. Paul wrote to the Roman Christian that he had a problem balancing his own life;...
