Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 This past Sunday I had the privilege to help preach about tithing and generosity. The etymology of the word “tenth” stems from “tithe”. In other words, “tithe” is simply an old word where we get our modern word “tenth”. Tithing simply means giving a tenth of one’s income, presumably to a religious establishment. The Bible isn’t […]
Category Archives: Other
Controlling the River
The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; Psalm 114:3 I recently visited the Hoover Dam, which obstructs the Colorado River. The engineer part of me appreciated seeing such a massive construction. I appreciate it all the more as I marvel that they built it back in the 1930’s. Nothing like it had been done to date. To think of the effort it took to construct such a massive structure! It’s one among the tallest dams at 726 feet (221 m) made of 3,250,000 cu yd (2,480,000 m3), enough to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to […]
Cleaning Up
Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah. 1 Samuel 7:5-6 Sundown today marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is a day of fasting and repentance, a day to seek the Lord. It is a day to make things right between you and God as well as […]
Another New Year
We’ve come to another Rosh Hashanah, the civil new year on the Jewish calendar. The hot summer months are transitioning into cooler fall months, all part of the normal annual cycle. The fall festivals have begun. Imagine the calendar like a slinky. We keep going round and round the annual calendar, coming back to where we were a year ago. However, this year is not last year. Nor is is next year. Each day is unique. A slinky is made of circles, but each loop moves a little. We remember what happened on a given day, yet we press on […]
Summer Gods
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 I didn’t intend to take the whole summer off for my blog, but that’s how it turned out. I have something to think about as the summer ends. I’ve seen plenty of temples in the places I’ve traveled around the ancient world. The gods were worshiped everywhere. Pervasively, the worship of the Roman emperors grew, starting at the end of the Roman Republic with Julius Caesar. In the eastern Mediterranean, he was called god and savior. About four months after his death, a comet appeared in the sky, interpreted to […]
Traveling Assembly
When the day of Pentecost came, [the apostles] were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, […]
Death Nullified
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7 Today around the world, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, is being remembered. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem marks […]
Swept Under a Rug
For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. Exodus 12:15 The Feast of Unleavened Bread is in full swing this week. Passover was on Monday. It’s a yearly reminder of the redemption God worked by bringing Israel out of Egypt. I was able to enjoy a Seder meal with my church small group again this year. However, this holiday is more than just a large meal […]
Christmas 2013
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 People gathered again at the Church of the Nativity, the traditional place of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Although […]
Thanksgivukkah
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? Psalm 106:2 The holiday season is upon us in full spring. Today is Thanksgiving. It is also the first day of Hanukkah this year. These holidays rarely coincide. While Thanksgiving has devolved into “Turkey Day” and the beginning for the Christmas shopping season, it was originally created as a day to give thanks to God. Consider this excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s original proclamation 150 years ago: (emphasis mine) I do therefore […]