Everyone born into the world has a name. Some names are easy to pronounce while others represent varying degrees of difficulty. On some occasions we find the need to change our names due to marriage or religion. Then, there are those who do not particularly like their name, but the fact remains that everybody has a name. A name to be remembered. Some years ago, the students at the University of Ca...
There is an American insurance company whose advertisements seek to convince consumers that they are in good hands when insured by them. All companies, including insurance companies, are in business to make a profit, not to do the consumer a favor. They may receive a benefit as a result of your doing business, but if the company is not profitable, it ceases to exist. Capitalism is at the heart of ...
The Bible records one of the most moving stories ever told. It is the account of God’s giving the ten commandments to Moses. This mountaintop experience was a most excellent setting for the revealing of such a historic document. “The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain… (Exodus 19:20 NIV).” In other words, God and man had a summit meeting -- God cam...
The challenge of every Christian believer is to live a holy life. Ralph P. Martin has defined holy as, “That person or thing that is separated from all that is profane, common or defiling. Yahweh alone is ‘the Holy One.’ Those persons, places or things that belong to God are holy -- they are sanctified by God for divine use or they manifest God’s presence or activity.” In other words, one who expe...
Have you ever wondered whether God was really present in your life? Times were hard and seemingly your misery was endless. You worked long and hard everyday and yet the need was always greater than your means. The pay raises never quite measured up to the escalation in the cost of living. You made more, were taxed more, but had less to spend. Then you cried, God where are you? The poem titled Foot...
God created us to be social beings. Life is not intended to be experienced in total isolation though moments of solitude are therapeutic. We live on the planet earth with other people and so it is essential for every person to develop meaningful relationships with significant others. Each person is introduced into society through a family unit, the most fundamental organism in existence today. Hum...
A marvelous story is told by the synoptic gospel writers about a boy who was possessed by an evil spirit. His father was concerned sufficiently enough to seek help for the boy in a time when all help had failed. The boy was brought to the disciples of Jesus with the request for healing, but they were powerless and confused. The father did not give up hope in the quest of healing for his son. So, w...
Glory is best defined as the outward shining of God’s inner-being. Or as George F. Handel contended, “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” Glory is, then, the revelation of God to the world. The New Testament writers see the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ. It was the Apostle Paul who told us, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts...
This subject causes one to focus on two significant theological expressions having a direct bearing on the quality of human life: salvation and grace. The apostle Paul adds a third expression that he calls faith; “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast… (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).” So ...
The priesthood of all believers is a topic highly talked about, but too rarely practiced. It has become no more than theological jargon with little or no meaning. Yet, we like Israel, are entitled to be a nation of priests. All of us, whether clergy or lay, share in an ordination by God to be priests. All persons who believe in Jesus the Christ are a part of this priestly nation. But, what constit...