…it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13.5, NIV My first line of commentators for years now have been the Early Church Fathers (EC). However, with the sources at my fingertips, the EC is silent on this particular phrase. If the EC points me in a direction, I usually let it guide my hermeneutics. However, since the EC is silent, I will tentatively proceed with hermeneutics. What is “it”? Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,... Read more
We often think of women at the crucifixion, and at the empty tomb. However, women traveled with Jesus and the Disciples throughout His ministry. Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;... Read more
The theme is waiting. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 15.6 How long does King David have to wait from these moments until the kingdom of Israel is restored to him? Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. Psalm 66.9 We wait for what seems like an endless minute, but our lives and times... Read more
The doctrine of subsequence more than likely comes to us from the Wesleyan tradition. It is a little difficult to track because the Wesley brothers, although they could have, did not operate as Theologians. John Wesley traveled the English countryside preaching sermons. Charles Wesley, his brother, is known for penning some of the most beautiful hymns of his era. defining subsequence So to track the doctrine of subsequence to the Wesley brothers is difficult to do, although they both firmly... Read more
10:15 PM really isn’t that late, is it? After all, people stay up much later on a Saturday night. Not too long ago my family used to have pizza and a couple movies on Friday night, stay up late. So what is worth reading at this time of night? First, maybe I should ask what is worth listening to? Rejoice. An original song by Victory That’s what I’ve been doing all day for the last couple days. I’ve had my... Read more
We all want to thrive. Everyone wants to experience the best. We all want to experience “the good life.” However, there are times in life when we face what seems like insurmountable odds. There are times when we face suffering. It is in those times when we might discover that Jesus is our Rock. He is the firm foundation, day by day, always there to stand upon. From that firm foundation, there are times when we find ourselves not only... Read more
In this snapshot of my daily office I share some current, mundane Christian practices. I am in the middle of a trying time, struggling to say the least. Yet I have had assurance after assurance that everything will work out for the good, not only for me, but for the parties involved. So what do I do when I’m waiting? What do you do when you’re waiting? There are many things I could do, but for me it is good... Read more
“You will be caught by what you are trying to catch!” The words of a friend at work were playful, yet firm, as if she was convinced. Now that I’m away from the situation, looking back I can see where someone would not welcome these words. For instance, if I was trying to catch someone off guard, I certainly would not want to be caught off guard. If I was conspiring to entrap someone, I certainly would not want to... Read more
These are Texts anticipating daybreak, Texts speaking to me or others in the dark season before dawn. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 13.3 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. Luke 24.11 I... Read more
Why am I not a Reformed Protestant? There are many reasons really, but there is one major reason. I do not believe in double predestination. Hollyn Obvious? Predestination, and Reformed scholasticism, is more of a philosophy than it is a Theology. It’s a system of thinking about salvation, usually based on a couple of occurrences of the term in the New Testament. Predestination can mean a lot of things. Usually it refers to God’s salvation plan. In some way He... Read more
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