The prophets of Israel often ranted about the horrors of the more urban northern kingdom of Israel. The prophets were mostly from the tribe of Judah, and they were in the Southern Kingdom, as was Jerusalem and the Temple. The polarization was so strong that they destroyed the Temple of the Samaritans in the Northern Kingdom, saying there could only be one. Healing a divided nation is one of my pursuits. But talking to people is a horror story when... Read more
Terror was in the eyes of the woman next to me in the grocery checkout line. Trembling, she said to me, “Is the world coming to an end?” It was 2019 and some world event happened I can’t even remember. “No,” I replied. I hoped my words were reassuring, but she obviously was under the spell of some church or televangelist teaching that I couldn’t untangle in a grocery line. A man I was counseling about spiritual matters in 2020... Read more
We value knowledge. But knowledge isn’t superior to the voice of God. Knowledge is just fact, not compelling spiritual wisdom that moves us in the right direction. Many have the assumption that the Bible is the literal word of God. We love to simplify our lives with such understandings. But God can speak to us through anything if we listen with a pure heart. The only Bible the apostles of Jesus knew was the Torah, which is the first five... Read more
Go and make disciples…. Is that the end? Or the beginning? “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20 Service opportunities and author’s books are at the bottom of the page. This Bible verse is often seen as... Read more
Chapter 5: Sacrifice They meandered through the bustling town of Sidon in peace. Judith was still stunned to think she had encountered a god and lived, so she had traveled along in silence. On the outskirts of town, Judith’s gaze moved to the Mediterranean, its shimmering waters sparkling in the afternoon sun lifted her spirits some. She felt humbled that any god would stop and talk to people, let alone her. She was not deserving. With minimal religious inclination, she... Read more
I don’t know. I don’t use labels and prefer descriptions that can grow or change, over definitions that can’t grow and become arrows to stab others because you hate them. I read a lot of progressives that I don’t agree with, and criticism of them is fair. I’m sure many don’t agree with me, and criticism of me is fair-it shows you’re thinking. I read one very biased article that said progressives demote Jesus. That article thinks that salvation is... Read more
What would we give up to save our socks? A parable of Mars In 2065, a group of business people decide to terraform Mars to exploit its resources and make it habitable. The plan was good. They would plant foliage that turned the 95% carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into oxygen that people could breathe. They would pump water from deep within the planet for people’s water needs and create lakes for food and recreation. Various animal species would also... Read more
Chapter 4: The Law Silence hung heavy in the air as they walked on, broken only by the clop clop of their sandals on the rock road. Judith, her head bowed, wrestled with a tempest of emotions. Shame burned in her cheeks at the memory of her brother-in-law’s harsh words. The encounter with the other Jews still sent shivers down her spine. Fear battled with a flicker of curiosity. How can Jews be so different? Those following Jesus exude kindness... Read more
The Bible covers everything from creation of the earth to destruction. It includes wiping out entire civilizations, invasions of other countries in the name of God, miracles, religion that ignores prophets in exchange for legal opinions and ceremony, and changes in contracts with God. The Jews had contracts (covenants) with God. The most recent contract is love, ushered in by Jesus. Why would people not be perplexed as to what it all means? Reference scripture “So every good tree bears... Read more
Chapter 3: Conflict Judith image by Meta, enhanced by Dorian Cole The afternoon sun cast long shadows as the group reached the outskirts of Tyre. The city, a bustling metropolis of commerce and culture, lay nestled against the Mediterranean. At night, its lights twinkled like stars reflected in the water. Exhaustion mingled with anticipation as they entered the city gates. The clamor of voices, the pungent aroma of spices, and the vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds overwhelmed Judith’s senses.... Read more
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