A Gray-Beard's Thoughts
A Gray-Beard's Thoughts
What things are revealed when we consider the language and culture of Biblical times as we study God’s Word? The author of the Gospel of John refers to Old Testament teachings, and provides other cultural clues intended to make the…
Situational awareness –“How do you know who is the most dangerous person in the room?” Is it: • The biggest guy? • The person who is obviously armed? • Is it the loudest person? • The obviously agitated person in…
As our Christian beliefs are rooted in the Judaism, often we can gain some insight for our reading of the Bible by looking at the languages and cultures of the Bible. For example, what did Jesus mean when he stated…
I learned to shave with a safety razor, a “butterfly” type where spinning the bottom of the handle opened up the top (like butterfly wings) to allow changing the safety razor blade. When I was attending US Navy Boot Camp,…
Western Christianity often provides us with a mental image of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as an unwed pregnant teenager. This clearly has roots in modern Christians not understanding the Hebrew marriage practices of the time. Such a misunderstanding may…
What is faith?Where does faith come from?Can I increase “my faith”?Is “my” faith “enough”?Will “my” faith ever be as big as a mustard seed? Luke 17: 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6 The Lord said,…
Have you ever warmed yourself outdoors on a chilly morning by a fire? Ever looked into the burning embers and have a remembrance of a similar time rise to the surface, bringing with it the feelings of that past experience…
Okay, I did a little dressing up of a Bible Study I led back in Oct. 2015. The result is a bit rambling, but that is how my brain works: The pondering sometimes triggers a trip down a rabbit trail…
Do you see irony in the stories around you? Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable because you find humor within the tragic things around us? Does a good pun make you smile inside? Does the outrageous get your attention, sometimes no…
Galatians 5:12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. World English Bible That is nice and polite in the English translation. However, the Greek (apokoptó) literally is a phrase in English = I emasculate, castrate, mutilate…