Last week I pointed out how the Jewish leaders, and especially the Pharisees, regarded Jesus as a law breaker because he did not conform to their interpretation of God’s laws regarding the Sabbath.[1] But that was not their only problem with Jesus. He offended the Jewish leaders by ignoring their Read more…
If you are like me, you probably think of chapters one and two of Genesis as the beginning of the Sabbath. After spending six days creating the world and the universe, Genesis 2:2-3 says: By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on Read more…
A former president is on trial and we could have a verdict from the jury soon, perhaps before I even finish and publish this blog entry. I’m sure everyone who is interested in his case hopes that justice will be done, although for some justice would mean a conviction, while Read more…
Every week I receive in my email inbox “An Encouraging Word” from Max Lucado. A recent Encouraging Word had a phrase that caught my attention: “To label is to libel.” Mr. Lucado’s point is that we often label people because we are judging them—and judging them harshly, I might add. Read more…
Aren’t Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism basically the same? No! And not just because Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”[1] Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the “Buddha,” which means one who is “awakened” or “enlightened.” One Read more…
Last week, and in a past blog entry, I discussed why “bad” things happen—or more accurately, why God allows them to happen. And from a strictly objective and intellectual viewpoint, such explanations can make a lot of sense—until it’s your loved one who dies or it’s your own body that Read more…
One of the most common arguments against the existence of God is the presence of pain and suffering. Can God not do anything about it? Or does he just not care? To the extent that pain and suffering is caused by human agency, the easy and readily apparent answer is Read more…
Some Christians insist that every word of the Bible was written by God, word for word, with the biblical writers effectively just taking dictation. The problem with this approach is that the biblical accounts often differ, albeit in details that are minor and relatively unimportant. This is well illustrated by Read more…
Some people contend that attending church is unnecessary, and that they can be good Christians without it. Some decline to attend because they have been physically or emotionally hurt at church. And some simply find church boring or uninspiring. Any Christian who doesn’t have a church family should know that Read more…
Last week we left the disciples fighting the wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee.[1] Despite going where Jesus had told them to go, and doing what Jesus had told them to do, they were encountering severe difficulties. And then they saw what they thought was a ghost—a human Read more…