PENnED

Category: Reflections on Scriptures

  • God’s Profile Picture Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

    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…

  • Making Hearts Leap for Joy

    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…

  • Karaoke-ing and Theologizing with My Catholic Friends

    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…

  • What Time Is It?

    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…

  • FEARLESS LIVING: How it can transform your life

    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…

  • Dead Man Talking

    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…

  • Jumpstarting Your Spiritual Growth

    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 Good News: Change Your Ways or Go To Hell

    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…

  • A Voice Among Powerful Voices: Will It Be Heard?

    Luke 3:1-6 New International Version (NIV) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word…

  • Why Still Hope Even If Everything’s Gonna Be Worse

    Jeremiah 33:14-16 New International Version (NIV) 14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right…