PENnED
…before they're washed away
recent posts
- Does God Take People Away? Rethinking Job 1:21 in Context
- Grafted Into One Tree: What Paul Actually Meant About Israel, Gentiles, and the People of God
- When Frameworks Distort Scripture: Learning to Hear the Text Again
- The Obscenity of Misplaced Allegiance
- A Reflection Honoring the Women Harmed by Cruel Abortion Laws
about
Category: Reflections on Scriptures
-
The horse apparently understands it is being helped. Sometimes humans do not have the same commendable instincts–they think you’re there to put them down. So they try to knock you down with a beastly kick. And some Christians are no different. When they see you not having the same bright red color–‘the color of the…
-
Dear friends, Thank you for sharing your thoughts through the comments you made on my Facebook posts as well as the messages and links you sent through Messenger. To me, that means you are concerned, as I am, about the current affairs. I also appreciate the attempts you have made to defend Donald Trump and…
-
Christians do not see eye to eye on whether there are cases in which abortion might be deemed a right option. Some might say that abortion is acceptable in cases of rape and pregnancy that puts the life of the mother at risk. Others, however, do not see any situation that might justify abortion. To…
-
In our desire to live the American dream, we look to a political leader and enthrone him.The One enthroned in heaven laughs;the Lord scoffs at us. We continue to fight for our politics, trumping, instead of loving, each other.He rebukes us in his anger and terrifies us in his wrath, but we don’t let up.…
-
Although experts have informed us there will be an end to this pandemic, yet we do not know exactly when. And the waiting seems endless. And so we ask, except staying home and washing our hands, what are we to do?
-
At the outset, let me say that I like Pastor Tony Rapu’s preaching style. He is also a good communicator. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a popular pastor in Nigeria. Pastor Rapu’s communication skill may be above average but the way he preached on the story of the people of Israel, who…
-
Since I have the luxury of time (thanks but no thanks to the new coronavirus) let me talk about N.T. Wright’s article published in Time magazine titled “Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To.” First, I am glad (and amused at how he puts it) that Wright is well aware of…
-
As of this writing, Italy has recorded the highest daily death toll anywhere in the world and the US leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases. While the whole world scrambles to fight coronavirus and individuals from different places and backgrounds offer very generous help, some Christians look at the pandemic as simply God’s judgment…
-
By Ed Fernandez Philippians 1:3-8 New International Version (NIV) 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work…
-
One of the most enjoyable and challenging conversations I’ve had happened very recently. Last weekend, I was with my Catholic friends who take their faith and the Bible seriously. We had not fellowshipped for a long time and so they decided to invite me and my wife Ruth to “a Sunday afternoon karaoke”. The one…
-
Interpreting this Present Time Luke 12:54-59 New International Version (NIV) Interpreting the Times 54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.56 Hypocrites! You know how to…
-
Luke 12:32-34 New International Version (NIV) 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your…
-
Luke 7:11-17 (NIV) Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the…
-
Luke 2:41-52 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Boy Jesus in the Temple 41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind…
-
Luke 3:7-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you,…
PENnED 