Have you ever been “flummoxed?” Another “fine” word… In its original meaning it meant “to make untidy.” But as we know – “word meanings” have a way of changing-slowly-over-time. Today, if someone was flummoxed, we might say they are bewildered, confounded, perplexed, confused, baffled, mystified, bemused, puzzled, disconcerted or “thrown off balance.” Ever been confused? […]
Let’s start out with a question. What is the second book of the Hebrew Bible? (Good Job!) Way back in Exodus (which means to exit or leave) God gave the people BREAD to eat when they were starving out of their minds in the desert. And now we eat it with peanut butter or jelly […]
It was the perfect day. 5 thousand plus…men, women, and children – all happy campers. Teaching, healing, and miracles, what a great combination! There was even food left-over. And so they drifted off into the peachy dusk, their boat bobbing up and down ever so gently on the then tranquil sea. It was all very […]
It’s a miracle!!! It’s a miracle!!! I can see the excited headlines plastered across the newspaper. Or, in today’s world, I can picture the trending topic on Twitter, and the stories filling my Facebook “news feed.” Jesus Feeds 5,000 People and you’ll never guess what He Does Next? Hash tag #Bread Miracle. Something noteworthy is happening here. […]
“Pe’ah” is a word that originally meant “corner.” There were actually “laws written about” the word “pe’ah.” The Biblical Story of Ruth and Naomi even picks up “this theme.” When Ruth, the Moabite leaves her land and people behind her – she goes with Ruth (her mother-in-law) to her mother-in-laws people. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, […]
A deserted place. I am sure – you have probably seen pictures of a cabin surrounded by beautiful acre after acre of land, perhaps with a stream or a river running nearby. No other homes in sight, no neighbors. No fences, necessary… Just plain old dirt roads…if that! Maybe even on a mountain side or […]
“You deserve a break today! So get up and get away! To McDonald’s! McDonald’s! McDonald’s!” Three times for emphasis sake! So that you will remember! The year was 1971. I am pretty sure that Jesus did not have Mickey D’s in mind-when he told the disciples to come away to a deserted place and rest […]
Herod Antipas was wary and leery. He was suspicious by nature. He trusted few among men. He believed strongly in fate and he had faith in all manners of magic. He believed in healers and feared greatly prophetic voices and especially tellers of fortune, both good and bad. With age, he found himself increasingly superstitious. […]
John was a guy to contend with… He didn’t fool around much. I don’t think he knew “HOW TO” fool around and have fun! The “wilderness life” was the “only life” he had ever known. So therefore, he subsisted on a starvation diet, as did his disciples. He was lean and mean and quite serious. […]
There is an ancient Greek – word, “Patrida.” We are more familiar with a derivation of it, Patri, meaning “father,” as in patriarchal. It is used here in Mark’s Gospel. It is perhaps “best defined” as being “one’s fatherland.” Or, “the place of one’s birth…” Or, “perhaps, one’s country of origin…” Or better yet, “your […]