How do you kill 11 million people? 3 reasons why we’ve likely been duped

Last updated on: August 5, 2023 at 3:16 pm By Rob Dalrymple

Florida has been making the news once again as its board of education approved a curriculum for middle school students that affirms that slaves benefitted from their enslavement: after all, the new curriculum suggests, they gained many useful skills such as carpentry and the like. In Israel, the Israeli Education Ministry has barred the Parents’ Circle Family Forum from giving presentations in Israeli schools. The Parents’ Circle Families Forum (PCFF) website describes the group as, “a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of... Read more

2 Reasons why Jesus’ kingdom is truly, “Liberty and Justice for all”; 10 Commandments #2

Last updated on: September 11, 2023 at 11:14 am By Rob Dalrymple

I grew up in the US public school system where we said the Pledge of Allegiance every day. I now wonder if we really meant it. I noted in my last post that I did a Google search on, “Why Christians should not practice social justice” and I was deeply grieved. One of the hits this search produced was of a post that had a long list of allegedly “unanswerable” questions, which the author was posing for those who advocate... Read more

3 reasons why the 10 Commandments apply for Christians today. 10 Commandments #1

Last updated on: September 1, 2023 at 6:10 am By Rob Dalrymple

So, I did a Google search on “Why Christians should not do social justice” and, yes, I was grieved at the results. Folks, what do you think the 10 Commandments are about? I’ll tell you: They are about creating a just society. Heaven and Earth Let me begin by starting at ground zero: the resurrection of Christ is one of the cardinal doctrines of the Church (1 Cor 15:3-8). In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul notes that Jesus’ resurrection is “the... Read more

What if the terrorists aren’t the terrorists? Israel’s recent attacks in Jenin (West Bank) #2

Last updated on: July 17, 2023 at 10:38 am By Rob Dalrymple

Could it be that some who are labeled “terrorists” are fighting for good causes? Is it possible that those in power, those who often control the press, are able to label as “terrorists” the ones who are actually the oppressed? In my last post, I addressed the question of terrorism with respect to the recent military efforts of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the refugee camp in the West Bank city of Jenin. As I noted in that post,... Read more

Would the real terrorists please stand up? Understanding recent events in Israel and Palestine and why it matters

Last updated on: July 17, 2023 at 9:49 am By Rob Dalrymple

In recent weeks, the Israeli army has launched “counter-terrorist” activities in the West Bank camp of Jenin. For insights into what is happening, let me begin with a question: Question: “If a twelve-year-old throws a rock at a soldier who has wreaked devastation on his/her home and the community, is he/she a terrorist?” When it comes to war and acts of violence, we too often think in terms of the good guys and bad guys. And often the hooligans on... Read more

Why our churches often look more like empire than Kingdom; 3 reasons why they are not about to change anytime soon; and what we should do about it: Beast/anti-Christ #9

Last updated on: July 9, 2023 at 9:39 am By Rob Dalrymple

Have you ever had a meeting that you knew was going to be confrontational? As you prepared to enter you were filled with fear, anxiety, and dread. And your blood pressure continued to rise. You knew before you entered that they were not going to listen. And that they would push back with all sorts of accusations—accusations that you have tried countless times to give your response and they haven’t listened. The Jesus Prayer One of the things that has... Read more

Global warming is legit and the book of Revelation affirms it: Wrath and God #6

Last updated on: July 3, 2023 at 4:58 pm By Rob Dalrymple

Global warming is legit and I think if we were to go back in time and tell John, the author of the book of Revelation, he wouldn’t be surprised. The Seven Trumpets and wrath At the end of the Seventh Trumpet, the 24 Elders cry out, “ . . . Your wrath came, and the time came . . . to destroy those who destroy the earth” (Rev 11:18). For a number of years, this verse puzzled me. It seemed... Read more

Pride Month: What does it mean to love our neighbor?

Last updated on: June 26, 2023 at 9:02 pm By Rob Dalrymple

Of course, we “Christians” should actively resist Pride Month. Really? I recently noticed that some of our neighbors were putting out Pride flags in order to celebrate or affirm Pride Month. Well, apparently, they have received some abuse and violence towards them for doing so. Years ago I had some members of my church come to me for some counsel. A close relative (niece or something like that), whom we will call “Susie” for the sake of this post, was... Read more

Are the Seven Seals God’s wrath? #5

Last updated on: June 12, 2023 at 12:37 pm By Rob Dalrymple

I hope by now that I have at least gotten you to consider the possibility that God does not bring wrath down on the world so that those who survive might repent and that my answer to the title of this post is “No.” (in case you haven’t read them, here are my previous posts: Is God a moral monster? #1 Is God a moral monster? #2 Is God a moral monster? #3 In my last post (Are the 7... Read more

Are the Seven Seals God’s wrath? Revelation #4

Last updated on: June 12, 2023 at 9:19 am By Rob Dalrymple

I have been trying to draw attention to the fact that for many Christians their understanding of God and wrath in the book of Revelation runs radically counter to how God has revealed Himself in Scripture. Yet, many apparently have no problem with this. Tim Lahaye, whose famous Left Behind series, which has sold 70 million copies, not only proclaims in his books that God will strike the earth and its inhabitants with plagues and horrible catastrophes but seemingly rejoices... Read more