Tag: Jesus
To God Be the Glory
As [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:1-3) One of the wonders of reading the Bible is that you’ll come across something that maybe you’ve come across before, but this time, it sticks out. → Read more...
The Broken Man
The sun was hot, just like a normal day, its heat radiating mercilessly down on the earth. There was a gentle breeze from a lake in the distance, but it didn’t help cool anyone down from the scorching sun. That’s why it was better to be here, near a pool in the shade provided by a cloth cover that was supported by circle of colonnades. Each equally spaced column surrounded this pool like Roman sentries, standing tall and proud. → Read more...
It’s Not You and Me in America, Part III
Last year or so, I posted a news article that talked about the sobering issues that Middle Eastern Christians have to face. Another article caught my eye a few weeks ago about Iran cracking down on Christians in a bid to stamp out possible political revolution. I’ve been looking for a time to post it here. Here are some excerpts, although I encourage you to read the whole story to get a fuller understanding of the issue. → Read more...
Everyone Has Dignity
One a Tuesday a month, I have the awesome privilege of going to Autumn Leaves, a senior care center for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. (It is across the street from our old building in Orland.) I am there with some of our high school kids in our youth group. Our goal those evenings are just to hang out and get to know some of the residents there and provide them with some companionship for a couple of hours. → Read more...
…With Our Offerings, Part II
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. → Read more...
With God, Anything’s Possible… Part I
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. → Read more...
Your Book Report
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. … If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” –Revelation 20:12,15 One of my both equally fondest and hated memories of school is doing book reports. → Read more...
In Medias Res
Frequent readers of this eLetter will know that I love movies and serial television shows, especially ones that attempt to tell a grand story over a period of time. Some of them employ a literary technique called in medias res, which is Latin for “into the midst of affairs.” This refers to where the narrative starts in the middle of the story instead of its beginning. The characters, setting, and conflict are often introduced through a series of flashbacks or through characters relating past events to each other. → Read more...
There Will Be Blood
November 8, 2012
Calvary
Comments Off on There Will Be Blood
Matt
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” – Leviticus 17:11 Blood is something that we’re all familiar with; we all have it and are all sustained, nourished, warmed and cleansed by it. It brings food and oxygen to our cells and organs and carries waste away. It regulates our body temperature, keeping us warm. → Read more...
atonementbloodEphesiansGodholyJesusLeviticuslife