SNL’s Dana Carvey as The Church Lady The Pharisees were a Jewish faction during the time of Christ. These guys were famous for reducing spirituality to a system of rules. The law of Moses contains roughly 600 laws. The Pharisees, in an ever-nuanced attempt to be right, doubled that number. Whoever didn’t comply with their…
Tag: Jesus
Rebel without a Cause
I’ve never been a fan of causes. Even as a non-Christian I was suspicious of the amount of devotion causes command. No matter how worthy the cause, I’ve never considered one worth my life. As a non-Christian, I didn’t know why I felt suspicious of causes. I thought it was because my mind was not…
Image-Bearing
The idea of image (especially God’s image) runs throughout Genesis. In chaper 1, humans are created in God’s image. After the fall, God’s image in mankind was marred. God intended His image to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). But Adam brought forth after his own image and likeness (Gen. 5:3). By…
Abandon Ship!
Over the years, I’ve read things by people who have left the church but continue to identify as Christians. There are a variety of things that lead to such a decision. Some have had bad experiences in the church and are connecting with God elsewhere. Others are reacting to a navel-gazing form of Christianity that…
The Descending and Ascending One
“Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch” (Gen. 5:18). Jared means “descend, go or come down.” Scripture says, “Enoch walked with God; then he was not because God took him” (Gen. 5:24). It is traditionally understood that Enoch was taken up to heavenly realms. Jared and Enoch picture Christ. Jared shows Christ who…
Despising the Lamb
Painting by Johnny Mays The following is excerpted from my booklet, “Despising the Lamb: Contempt for Christ in First Samuel“ Hophni and Phineas: Priests of Pleasure When Hannah gave her only son to the Lord, Hophni and Phineas were priests (1 Sam. 1:3). Scripture says Hophni and Phineas were wicked men (1 Sam. 2:12). They…
Brothers and Covenants
Genesis chapter four discusses Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first sons. Cain means, “Acquired,” as Eve says, “With the LORD’s help I have acquired a male” (Gen. 4:1). Abel is derived from a word meaning, “Son.” Cain “worked the ground” and offered the Lord produce (Gen. 4:2-3). Abel offered firstborn animals (especially their fat…
Prayers to Santa
Our local paper publishes letters to Santa written by children in the community. Here is one of the more hilarious examples: To Santu, Mii krismislist I wont usiinsset end a ulabkot u snacset. I wont to sekrokuoil huntr u skoodr bag. (No, your font isn’t scrambled. I typed it exactly as written). The letters cover…
Our Favorite Whipping Boy
But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Gal. 2:14). Peter (AKA Cephas)…. It’s always Peter, right? All…
The Voice of One 