hey troops! wanna give a shoutout on the Scribbles and Bits challenge: 8 in so far and they are EXCELLENT! If you are thinking about trying the challenges.. take a look at the entries so far to see how it's done. what's been done with that...
hey troops.. home again after a great time down at the beach. everything went great.. weather was perfecto. missions accomplished: got granddaughter well and truly spoiled, drank some of the best beer in the US of A, had some wonderful seafood,...
Continuing our series: we're now on Matthew 5:14. "you are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. when you light a lamp you do not put it under a bushel but on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house....
Continuing with our series: we’re at Matthew 5:13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its flavor how can its saltiness be restored? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” ...
As we reach the end of the Beatitudes, we need to pause and consider a few things. We have grown so comfortable with the words, so familiar, that we really don’t realize how radical and counterintuitive they are. “blessed are the poor in...
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Romans were a fairly tolerant people- except in two areas: the state religion and their political control. threats to...
For all those who have stuck with me- my deepest thanks. I'm taking this very seriously because these words- when understood- are the foundation of true life. So a rant. As You will see, I think the meaning of the next phrase depends on...
Continuing with the beatitudes: "blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" Jesus knew that everyone at his feet was mourning someone: a victim of Herod's rage, or the constant warfare, or disease or... So much...
A quick word about some things I’ll be doing throughout this discussion: I won’t be quoting chapter and verse often. It is in Matthew 5: and you can follow it without my breaking it up. Chapter and verse are a good tool for finding a passage.. but...
thanks for sticking with me through these necessary preliminaries. I promise this is the last one: but this must be said to understand the setting. After the exile in Babylon and then their return, the Jews went through a...