Blake’s 7 and America First

Last updated on: January 3, 2018 at 3:36 pm By Henry Karlson

Forty years ago, the classic science fiction television series Blake’s 7 had its debut. The series has often been seen as the British response to Star Trek, not by repeating and doing things like Star Trek but rather by offering a critical response to Rodenberry’s utopian vision of the future. Instead of having a benevolent Federation of Planets seeking to bring peace and prosperity to the galaxy, the Earth Federation of Blake’s 7 was an oppressive authoritarian regime which brainwashed... Read more

St Pambo And The Spirit Of God

Last updated on: January 2, 2018 at 9:58 am By Henry Karlson

He said of Pambo that Abba Anthony used to say of him, ‘Through fearing God, he caused the spirit of God to dwell in him.’[1] This statement comes from the Sayings of Poemen, the Shepherd, who seems to have been close to the author or editor of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers for the sayings of Poemen seem to account for one-seventh of the whole collection. Poemen recounted what St. Anthony said of Pambo, a famous Egyptian monk who... Read more

The Secret Of Paul

Last updated on: January 2, 2018 at 9:59 am By Henry Karlson

There are many ways to read and understand Scripture. It impossible to say one way is true and all other ways are false. They are often all true and complement each other. However, this is not to say all interpretations are valid. Many must be outright rejected, even as other interpretations, while not completely wrong, are imbalanced and must be cautioned against so that people do not harm themselves due to that imbalance. Perhaps one of the most dangerous, if... Read more

Those Wise Pagans

Last updated on: December 28, 2017 at 1:05 pm By Henry Karlson

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:1-2 RSV). Pagan wise men “from the East” came to worship Jesus Christ. They were pagan mystics, Magi, magicians, who were skilled in the metaphysical arts. While,... Read more

Freedom Allows God’s Creation To Resist Salvation

Last updated on: December 26, 2017 at 4:31 pm By Henry Karlson

When talking about what Christ accomplished on the cross, it is important to begin with a simple foundation: objectively, he worked for and achieved the redemption of all creation. Objectively, his goal has been achieved. Objectively, all things are reconciled to him, as Paul in Colossians states: For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of... Read more

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Last updated on: December 29, 2017 at 12:35 pm By Henry Karlson

A young woman, a refugee from Syria, sees a homeless, wheel-chair bound veteran begging for money in front of the metro entrance in Washington DC. He is all alone. No one is giving him money. He looks sad and depressed. She walks over to him, gives him some money, and starts talking to him, letting him have companionship for the day. Later, she asks him what he would need for the rest of the day that she could get for... Read more

Driving Along Towards Fascism

Last updated on: December 20, 2017 at 7:15 am By Henry Karlson

With the Republicans choosing to give money to the extremely wealthy, the American Republic will not have the funds it needs in order to provide for its goods and services. The long-term deficit they have created through their extreme tax bill is estimated to being nearly 1.5 trillion dollars. When the infrastructure, which has long shown the extreme need for repair, becomes a central concern for the government, they will not have the money to pay for it. This, of... Read more

No Exclusive Claims On God

Last updated on: December 20, 2017 at 11:05 am By Henry Karlson

We have a tendency to try to place a hold upon God and believe he has some sort of exclusive relationship with us. We tend to do this both individually and communally. We want to believe there is something special about us, and that is where we find and proclaim our exclusive hold upon God. We are special, and God sees we are special, so he has a special tie with us, and if someone wants to make right with... Read more

The Good Of Prayer

Last updated on: December 18, 2017 at 10:16 am By Henry Karlson

A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, ‘Is it good to pray?’ The old man said that Abba Anthony said, ‘This word comes from the mouth of the Lord, who said, “Comfort, comfort my people.”’[1] It is a question which is often asked, in one form or another: what good is there in prayer? Why, exactly do we pray? It is not as if God needs us to pray to know our wants and needs, so why does he make us... Read more

When We Trip And Fall In The Pilgrimage Of Life, God Is There Ready To Help

Last updated on: December 14, 2017 at 12:06 pm By Henry Karlson

One of the normative phases of spiritual development is found when a spiritual pilgrim goes off alone to fight against all the temptations which beset them. These temptations can come from within, with all the inordinate desires, passions and habits they have developed throughout their lives, but also, it can come from some external influence, which suggest the wrong course of action which will get them off the proper spiritual path. They go to get to know themselves better, to... Read more

What did Pharaoh’s daughter find floating in the river?