Category Archives: Opening the Bible

We Are Glad!

It’s been a long time and the memory is nearly washed from my mind—but not quite. I can still remember an occasion when our son, Nathan, was young—about kindergarten age. It was early on a peaceful Sunday morning in Sumter, South Carolina. We were going to a men’s breakfast before church at a local restaurantContinue reading “We Are Glad!”

Same Sex Relationships

Our culture increasingly recognizes fewer and fewer sexual boundaries. The idea of abstinence before marriage is laughed at and mocked by many (though it’s no laughing matter with God – Hebrews 13:4). Adultery is taken only a bit more seriously, and in the last few decades we have entered into an “anything goes” mentality thatContinue reading “Same Sex Relationships”

The Scripture And Gender (2)

Gender Traits 1. There are those that are defining of gender and absolute. These are anatomical differences—men have testicles, penises, and prostate glands, while women have ovaries, vaginas, and breasts. Then there are significant hormonal differences in terms of testosterone and estrogen. There are many more biological differences like these that are not open toContinue reading “The Scripture And Gender (2)”

Real, Right & Rewarding

1And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:1-3) During their time in Egypt, Israel had been exposed to a multiplicity of gods. Now they were on their way to Canaan, the land of milk and honey—andContinue reading “Real, Right & Rewarding”

Is He Amazed By Us?

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’tContinue reading “Is He Amazed By Us?”

Mark And Chronology

Although Mark follows a general chronological approach in recounting of the story of Jesus (as do the other gospel writers), he’s not married to it. More to the point, he never claims to be.   So, it’s a serious error to think that Mark somehow isn’t inspired because absolutely every detail isn’t arranged chronologically. Though weContinue reading “Mark And Chronology”

It Is All Connected!

I’m saying nothing new to anyone to note that in the West there has been a marked drift away from the acknowledgement of, the worship of, and service to, God. The trivialization of Him, secularism, materialism, and other forces have contributed to this. What’s less acknowledged is that seemingly paralleling this decline, there has beenContinue reading “It Is All Connected!”

The Glories Of God’s Kingdom

The story featuring the question to Jesus about fasting is the third in a series of five stories of conflict (Mark 2:1-3:6). The first two stories (the healing of the paralyzed man, Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners) celebrate the power and scope of forgiveness in the kingdom (2:1-17), while the last two (theContinue reading “The Glories Of God’s Kingdom”

There’s Within My Heart A Melody

Our church had a singing recently. It was one of those where we had the opportunity to request our favorites. Only instead of calling out the name of the song, we called out the number in the songbook (as we always do). So on this particular occasion there was a flurry of “number calling” asContinue reading “There’s Within My Heart A Melody”