Category: Biblical Studies

It is a few weeks after the traditional epiphany is observed here in the west.  For those who do not know, the epiphany is a name given to the event where the wise men from the east had come to Jesus house to visit and worship him.  The time is now known but it was not on the same day as Jesus’ birth. It could be anytime, possibly up to two years since the birth.

The bible is full of connecting threads.  That is because it is ultimately written by the same author.  It is made up of sixty six books, written by forty different people over a period of thousands of years yet all with the same story and none contradicting the others. For the most part, these guys didn’t even know each other.

Today I am going to connect another one of these threads.

Yes, Merry Christmas.  Even if you aren’t currently a christian.  Remember, however, that Christ is not just about one day in a year, He is every day in the year.

If you want to go on a guilt trip, though, read Alexander Hislop’s book “The Two Babylons”.  Especially the part about Tamuz worship, yule logs and decorated trees during the winter solstice.

If you want even more of a guilt trip, read Jeremiah 10.

Before you go getting to feel too guilty, unless you are using the Christmas tree as idol worship, I should think you are ok.

I hear this a lot when tragedy happens. Where is God when such and such happens?

He is in the same place He was when his son was murdered on a cross two thousand years ago.

How can he let this happen?

God gave man choice. Man chooses to do evil. You can’t have it both ways. Believe me, His heart is broken just as much as ours is, and He has been privy to our actions for all of time and knows what is coming down the line.

Evil exists in the world on many levels and we saw one of the worst levels of it on Friday, 14th. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the children and teachers and workers who were effected by this terrible act.
It may not feel like it right now, but God is with you. While the blame game is being played, remember that the fault lies squarely on the guy who perpetrated this act.

I have to write this in the case that anyone reading it may be considering using Esurance.

Do not do it. We moved fairly quickly due to a job offer and in our new location we no longer had the option of keeping our former insurance company. Given we had little time, I decided to try out Esurance.

At first, they were very eager for our business. They signed us up after gathering the information they needed and even had me wait on the phone while they did whatever check it is they do. I had forgotten about a cracked windshield claim from 4 years ago but that was straightened out.

So all seemed well. Then a month later, I get a message saying that they think I have other people living at my house that must also be insured. We called and had that straightened out. I knew none of those people. They then claimed that my wife was running with an expired drivers’ licence. Which she is not. We got that straightened out. My sister-in-law lives with us and is also on the policy and they claimed they couldn’t find anything about her. Not really my fault, but we gave them the information they asked for and supposedly already checked out when we originally signed up.

Then we were told they had no proof of prior insurance. So I got that proof and sent it to them. Twice.

A month later, with no warning, I receive an email saying my policy is canceled. A detailed explanation is online in my account. No explanation existed. I called, but was told I had to speak to a policy underwriter and they were closed.

Because of this, I am hosed on getting insurance with next company as I have had them less than a year. My previous company I had for 12.

All worked out, so far. I went with another company. The same coverage is about 10% cheaper and I hope better with their customers.

Again, DO NOT use Esurance. They are an affiliate of Allstate, so I hold that parent company suspect now as well.

“Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. So, put me to the test in this right now,” says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and see if I won’t throw open the windows of heaven for you and pour out on you blessing without measure. And I’ll prevent the devourer from harming you, so that he does not destroy the crops of your land. Nor will the vines in your fields drop their fruit,” says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
(Mal 3:10-11)

The bible is full of threads and I want to talk about one of those today.

The bible is made up of 66 books written by 40 authors over thousands of years.  Most of them didn’t even know each other, particularly in the Old Testament.  Yet, there is evidence of an integrated wholeness to the bible that cannot be denied.  There is more than just a thematic sameness to each of the books, there are parts that are connected to each other like a thread connecting parts of a garment.

One of these threads is what I call Choice and Choosing Life.

I heard a quote from Pastor Leo Giovinetti today that really sums up some problems people have in the church all the way back to the church in Corinth and even the Levitical priesthood through the Pharisees and Sadducees.

He said we have to unlearn Calvary Chapel.  Unlearn United Methodist.  Unlearn Southern Baptist.  Instead we need to sit with Jesus.  This is a profound statement that comes straight from the heart of Jesus.  It is found in the gospels.  The Pharisees were too tied up in their tradition.  They had forgotten God.  The Corinthians were arguing amongst themselves who was the better leader to follow, Paul or Apollos.  They had forgotten the one they were supposed to be following.  The Ephesians held fast to doctrine very well.  They weeded out the false prophets and teachers, but in the process they had forgotten their first love.

It will do us well to ask ourselves what is more important.  The institution we attend or the one that institution serves?  Unlearn Calvinism.  Unlearn United Methodist.  Unlearn Baptist.  Unlearn Calvary Chapel.  Unlearn Catholocism.  Unlearn Lutheranism.  Sit with Jesus.

If this statement offends you.  Consider why that might be.  Do you put your faith in the institution, or the one the institution was originally set up to serve?

It is no suprise to any mature christian that attacks will come from without the Body. The attacks that really hurt are the ones that come from within. For the last two weeks I have been struggling with this.

The bible warns of the consequences of the decision of what we worship.  Essentially, we become like that which we worship or hold in reverence and high esteem.  What is it that you are holding in reverence and high esteem?