God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. Martin Luther     Read more

    Luke 19:1-10 Compare Matthew 18:11   As I’ve repeatedly said, one would be hard pressed to find any doctrine of salvation by grace alone in the teachings of Jesus — at least, as they’re recorded in the four New Testament gospels.   The case of Zacchaeus illustrates my point nicely:  Jesus plainly approves of this diminutive publican’s generosity to the poor and his commitment to (going beyond) justice.  Jesus doesn’t tell Zacchaeus that his righteousness is as filthy rags or that... Read more

    I’m not sure that he can save the Republican Party.  But I’m increasingly concerned that the other 3572 Republican presidential candidates can’t.   Which could, even if he never actually received a majority of the votes, deliver the Republican nomination to Donald Trump — and, shortly thereafter, deliver the While House to the youthful and fresh vision of honest Hillary Clinton, Socialist Bernie Sanders, or Mr. Integrity, Joe Biden.   Here’s one writer who thinks that Mr. Romney ought to... Read more

    Matthew 20:29-34 Mark 10:46-52 Luke 18:35-43 Compare Matthew 9:27-31; Luke 18:31-34   Jesus has the power to give us sight, to enable us to see the things that were always present but that, through our incapacity, we were previously unable to perceive.   May it be with us as it was with Bartimaeus:   “And immediately he received his sight,” says Mark 10:52, “and followed Jesus in the way.”     Read more

    I’ve posted this before.  It seems time to post it again:   I’m sometimes contacted by people who’re experiencing doubts about the claims of Mormonism or whose spouse or father or daughter has lost faith.  I always ask what the specific issues might be, and I then try to address those or to locate colleagues or printed resources that might help resolve their concerns.   I think that such efforts are extraordinarily important.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell, for... Read more

  Interesting thoughts for your consideration of the creation story in Genesis (and elsewhere):   http://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2015/08/the-ecstatic-adam.html     Read more

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2DgwPG7mAA   Funny, whether your political views are wrong or — like mine — right.   (Thanks to Anne Palmieri for bringing this important visual document to my attention.)     Read more

    I can’t see anything significant in Jonah Goldberg’s take on Donald Trump and his supporters with which I disagree:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423901/donald-trump-conservatives-war     Read more

    What on earth was the thing built for?   We still don’t really know.   But there’ve been some pretty wild theories proposed:   http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/stonehenge-myths-and-conspiracies-150911.htm     Read more

    http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/christianity/mormon-church-returns-the-favor-hosts-shabbat-for-jews-whose-temple-was-destroyed   I absolutely love stories like this one.     Read more