This scene from The Count of Monte Cristo (by Alexandre Dumas) will help you tremendously as you imaginatively immerse yourself in the story of Joseph, son of Jacob (especially as you seek to understand Joseph’s shrewd, sharp, and subversive interactions with his perfidious brothers). The procureur entered with the same grave and measured step he […]
Counselor: How are things? Martha: Not great. Counselor: [silent gaze…] Martha: Well, you know how I’ve been really jazzed about Jesus? Counselor: Yes… Martha: Well, I invited Jesus to come have dinner at our house, and I expected my relative(s) to help me serve Jesus. I was humbly and honorably committed to the rigors and […]
I just read through Ecclesiastes, and I was confused! As I ponder the proverbs and epigrams of The Preacher I find myself wondering what Jesus made of these aphorisms? Or how did Daniel interpret and apply these adages and axioms? Or how did Edmond Dantés puzzle over these teachings in Ecclesiastes? Here are a few […]
I am encountering more and more scenarios where someone is told the truth about themselves, and they run away. This is so common that I’m sure you have witnessed this sort of thing. It’s widespread… when people are told the truth about themselves, they claim that they are being mistreated and they cancel the person […]
I recently sent the following text message to a world renowned bible teacher in our denomination… How do you interpret Matthew 11:12? “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” Do you take it to mean that ‘Pharisees are trying […]
“Until the sun slipped finally behind the tree line, Mrs. Turpin remained there with her gaze bent to them as if she were absorbing some abysmal life-giving knowledge. At last she lifted her head. There was only a purple streak in the sky,cutting through a field of crimson and leading, like an extension of the […]
“But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,” said Frodo. Sam looked at him unhappily. “It all depends on what you want,” put in Merry. “You can trust us to stick with you through thick and thin–to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours–closer than you […]
I’m listening to a book called Low Anthropology (by David Zahl). In the book David talks about the tyranny of positivity. The tyranny of positivity is stuff like, a 15 year old kid gets last place in a tennis tournament, and while driving home the kid’s dad says, “Don’t let this get you down. You’re […]
In Paul’s letter to the Jesus people in Rome he says, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Think about this… When, and how, did Paul get his […]
I did not see that coming! ::: In Deuteronomy God is talking about tithing (which is to be expected), and then He says, “Bring your tithe money to the place of God’s choosing, and spend the money on whatever you desire – choice cuts of steak, or succulent lamb shanks, or wine, or strong drink […]