This book was recommended by Ross Douthat in his recent book, and an excellent recommendation it was! *** I’ll begin with an overview of the book, starting with the author’s definition of the eponymous “undesigned coincidence” (12): An undesigned coincidence is a notable connection between two or more accounts or texts that doesn’t seem to … [Read more…]
I recently ran across this nicely presented chiasm for Hebrews 12:1-2 (page 207 of David Alan Black’s Learn To Read New Testament Greek): A [H]aving SEATED around us such a great cloud of witnesses >>B SETTING ASIDE every weight and clinging sin >>>>C with PATIENT ENDURANCE >>>>>>D let us run the race THAT IS SET … [Read more…]
It is exciting to have a book of Christian apologetics on the New York Times best seller list — debuting at number eight among nonfiction hardbacks! I will give you a quick summary and my bottom line first: The book begins with chapters on how recent science on fine-tuning, human consciousness, and supernatural events like … [Read more…]
June is the most romantic month, the month rhyming with moon and the bride’s choice for many weddings. And as it happens our church just finished a four-week sermon series “From This Day Forward,” focusing on marriage. The Scriptural bases were primarily Genesis 1-3 and Ephesians 2, 4, and especially 5. Here are a few … [Read more…]
Here’s a happy thought I had this spring as I drank my morning coffee: What is the natural sound people most often hear — that is, the sound people most often hear that is not manmade? The answer is birds singing, is it not? And that is a very pleasant sound, is it not? The … [Read more…]
Jesus thinks and studies for many years before He begins His ministry. There is a lesson there, isn’t there, about knowing your song well before singing? He had to get things right, and took care even though He was divine. And regarding the Old Testament, it would be odd to have an extended and detailed … [Read more…]
In his Easter sermon, our pastor made two especially powerful points. First, he asked for a show of hands of those who could remember 9/11. He continued: Suppose you wrote down your recollection of the basic events of that day, and those accounts were all collected and put in a time capsule. Two thousand years … [Read more…]
He is risen! And, by the way, in the sermon series on Leviticus that our church just finished (see preceding post), it was noted that chapter 11 in this book, on atonement, is at the book’s center. And, for that matter, this chapter is also in the Torah’s/Pentateuch’s center, Leviticus being the middle book. Also … [Read more…]
Our church just finished a sermon series on Leviticus, and in that regard I wanted to share a thought. In the text there are repeated reminders along the lines of “I am the Lord” or “I am the Lord your God” (for example, fifteen times just in chapter 19, according to a study guide). So … [Read more…]
I’ve noted before that a prayer of confession is part of my daily routine, and I’ll take this opportunity to elaborate on it a bit. We’re coming up on Lent next week, a serious time, and a brief daily prayer of confession fits in with that. Now, needless to say, your sins are not my … [Read more…]