Bible blog

I read the Bible in chronological order and recently found myself reading the Book of Esther while listening to a series of sermons on the same book. I guess you could call it real immersion. (By the way, I'm also…

What's so special woman in black, and why is it still operating in the West End after 33 years? As someone who is about to play it for the 1000th time (spread across 4 contracts since 2009), I can offer an insider's perspective that…

In the corporate world, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is commonplace. It is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship. By signing the agreement, the parties involved agree that any…

friday september 9 – I've blogged about past World Championships and gotten some good feedback, but it's a lot of work doing it during a busy time. I decided this morning to give this format an extra push and see how it goes. It's a…

He never fails. If you have two toys and you give one to each of your two children, they will not like what you gave them and they will want any toy you gave to their sibling. For some reason, we never go over that. We always want what…

Joe's morning cup September 9, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day!-->…

September 11, 2022 Lectionary14th Sunday after PentecostExodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10;1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 Once again, in this post-Pentecost period, the lectionary passages build on the previous week. Last…

September 4, 2022 Lectionary Blog13th Sunday after PentecostDeuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1;Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 Let's be honest, this week's Gospel reading is tough. We love that Jesus is full of infinite love…

The Jacksonville Jaguars will visit the Atlanta Falcons in the Week 3 Preseason Finals with kickoff Saturday, August 27 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The pre-season was largely positive and encouraging,…

A few years ago, a public debate erupted around the phrase "I send you thoughts and prayers". This sentiment, which has been popularized by politicians in the wake of national tragedies, has come under…

One Sunday afternoon, as we were driving home from church, my son told me that he would not go back to Sunday school again. Notice he didn't ask my permission to stop going to Sunday school. He just told me he wouldn't come back. I…

This is a question I get asked frequently: Should I stay in my marriage? This is also a question I struggled with for a very long time after finding out about my first husband's infidelity. I had made a covenant…

But First: NSFW (not safe for work) Randy Rainbow's Newest (4 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSZRkeQfnk First let me start by apologizing for not including the answer to question (R) in last week's quiz. The previous quiz…

Joe's morning cup August 17, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day!-->…

August 21, 2022 Lectionary11th Sunday after PentecostIsaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 103:1-8;Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17 Who hasn't been frustrated when something they had planned to go in a certain direction got cut short?…

Joe's morning cup August 12, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day!-->…

Each year, many pilgrims make the journey to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg for one key reason: to remember the power of a single lifetime to make history. When a simple monk named Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five…

How well do you know God? Do you like meeting him every day? Is he the first thing that comes to mind every morning? Do you want to spend time with Him? With his word? Do you look forward to His sweet whispers…

Joe's morning cup August 8, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Be!-->…

If you are a true follower of Christ, you will have enemies. Lots of enemies. It's not a popular idea. Many Christians seem more eager to fit into the culture, or at least gain its affirmation, than to oppose…

August 14, 2022 LectionaryTenth Sunday after PentecostJeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 82;Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 The readings of the Hebrew Bible and the Gospel today seek to upset our understanding of peace. To…

On a recent trip to Colorado, I was struck by how many mountains I could see on the horizon. At one point I could see mountains literally in every direction I looked. You have to understand, for Okies…

So there is no doubt that the Friday performance and everything that happened up to that point was copyright infringement. Not only were RGV Productions and The Door Christian Fellowship Ministries of McAllen not granted the rights to…

As disconcerting as it may be, when it comes to God, expect mystery. The great prophet Isaiah records these words from God himself: "My thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways..."As the…

Joe's morning cup August 3, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Did!-->…

August 7, 2022 LectionaryNinth Sunday after PentecostGenesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22;Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 In recent months - and, indeed, in recent centuries - we have seen Christians of varying persuasions…

Joe's morning cup July 27, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day!-->…

Webster's dictionary defines the word thing as “an attention-grabbing device or feature, usually superficial, designed to promote the success of a product, campaign; any clever or cunning little gadget. Churches…

If you're like me, your social media feed has recently been filled with vacation photos. From sandy beaches to mountains to national monuments, there are countless Instagram-worthy picture-perfect…

Joe's morning cup July 21, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day!-->…

When we exclaim, "If only I knew what God wants me to do, I would do it!" we are not often serious. Books on the search for God's will are legion. But it's not about knowing, the real fight is Next God's will.…

In my mind today, I'm so sad. My sweet husband (MSH as my daughter says for short) left for heaven on July 2, 2022. I cry and then I laugh and cry again. Watching someone you love disappear before your eyes is so hard. I don't have a…

While it's not surprising that a private Christian university in the south would do such a thing, it surprised me that the university basically confirmed that this was the reason they didn't renew the contract of Barnett. In a statement…

Apple unveiled a completely redesigned 13.6-inch MacBook Air with its new M2 chip under the hood at WWDC 2022 last month. The new laptop became available for pre-order on July 8 and is set to launch on Friday July 15, more than a month…

Let's say you're in. You agree with the apostle Paul when he wrote: “Because we understand our awesome responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others…. And God gave us this task of reconciling people…

It was around 2 am in Slovakia, but that didn't matter. Simon Nemec picked up his cell phone to call his mother.The 18-year-old defenseman was just picked second overall in the NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and wanted to talk to his…

If there's one teenage parenting principle hammered home by almost everyone, it's the importance of communication. The challenge is that today, that means becoming bilingual. Translation: learn "adolescent talk".…

Joe's morning cup July 6, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Will!-->…

This week, the Israeli Knesset approved the first reading of the 24e The Knesset Dissolution Bill, which would dissolve the Knesset and lead to new elections in Israel.Seventy-four lawmakers voted in favor of the…

At the recent annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Anaheim, there was a debate and a number of questions regarding the issue of the Saddleback Church and women as pastors. A number…

It's been said that what you'll look like five years from now depends on two things: the books you read and the people you hang out with. It's hard to underestimate the impact of the people around you. I once…

I try hard not to let Father's Day be sad for me since my father is no longer alive except in my heart and mind. As I think about how I could honor my father this Father's Day, I think of him not just as a father, but as a man with…

One of the biggest investments I've made in my life has been in parenthood. My wife and I have raised four children and are now dedicated to 14 grandchildren. I also consider my role as pastor to be largely a…

We all know we've been through a pandemic. What is not widely realized is that we are also living through an infodemic. Epidemiology is a branch of medical science that studies how diseases are transmitted and,…

David Aubril is a French teacher, passionate about didactics, literature, UNIX systems and apnea (in no order of preference). He follows with great interest contemporary debates on evangelical and ecclesial questions, but from afar, from…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Bears got arrested for kicking football in…

Celia CapstickAhead of the Feast of Pentecost, our international prayer group SHCJ - the Society of the Holy Child Jesus - came together to greet those in Africa, America and Ireland with added delight as we marveled at the how the distance…

We're only a week away from officially becoming family, and I'm so excited! I remember the first time Blake introduced us. I was captivated by your natural beauty and your calm, gentle spirit. I knew you had…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Deshaun Watson has offered each of his more…

Ever since Jesus gave his church the command to make disciples all over the world, we have struggled to define the best way to achieve what Jesus requires of us. The first problem is to understand what Jesus meant by “discipleship”. In…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Congress wants NFL guards Roger Goodell and…

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is now behind us. That means it's time for my annual summer playlist (you can find last year's list HERE). These are usually the top 10 books I've read in the past…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Charges dropped against Jerry Jeudy. Four…

Typically, it only took us a few days to go from freezing, plant-damaging nighttime temperatures to the sweltering, humid heat of the 90s – not weeks, but days! People here, jokingly but not really…

This morning, a title popped up on my phone: 'Explosive 400-page report reveals Southern Baptist leaders have systematically silenced sexual abuse survivors' I clicked on the link out of curiosity to find out what…

Dana Marsh conducted the Washington Bach Consort in the “St. Matthew Passion” Saturday night at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill. Photo: Kate Wichlinski the Passion according to Saint Matthew is the pinnacle of…

WHY DID IT MAKE A BIG DEAL OF THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR? The very idea that the government of the day has the foresight and skill to successfully diagnose and treat the nation's economic ills in a way that hasn't!-->!-->…

JD Hall, a pastor and editor of a far-right 'discernment' blog known for his vitriolic attacks on 'heretics', 'woke' preachers and 'feminists', was arrested last week for conduct impaired and armed, according to local police. Hall's…

The "seven letters to the seven churches" is one of the best known and most frequently taught sections of the book of Revelation. In it, seven letters from Jesus were sent to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna,…

Photo credit: Shutterstock, praised by the authorTel Gezer looks like an arid hill, the hiking trails seen in the photo are full of wonderful examples of archeology as far as the eye can see. "Pharaoh king of Egypt…

Kent P. Jackson, Understanding the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (Provo, UT: Center for Religious Studies and Deseret Book, 2022) Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible: The Joseph Smith Translation and the King James Translation…

A friend told me a long time ago that a person, especially a leader, must keep their essence. That is, a person has only a certain "essence", a certain amount of personal power and energy that he can give to any thing. Once given, it…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day If the NFL was smart, it could make the…

"When the words are many, there is no lack of transgression" (Proverbs 10:19), so it is no wonder that among all the ink spilled on the leak Dobbs draft decision, there were at least some shocking takes. Such a take came from…

When the movie celestial fall released in 2012, it was the 23rd installment in the James Bond series which began 60 years ago in 1962 with Dr. No. celestial fall has been heralded as the best Bond movie in years…

"When the words are many, there is no lack of transgression" (Proverbs 10:19), so it is no wonder that among all the ink spilled on the leak Dobbs draft decision, there were at least some shocking takes. Such a take came from…

Quebecers are quite conservative when it comes to naming babies. There is no "Pomme" or "X Æ A-12" to complete the list of Retraite Québec's most popular nicknames this year. Instead, Emma and Noah took the top spot in 2021, fending off…

Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett and Thomas……..names that will live on in Infamy!The history of the United States is at stake! Elections have consequences, they say! This was certainly the case in 2016…. when by hook or by…

As you read this, the US Central Intelligence Agency will be planning regime change in the South Pacific. The target will be the Solomon Islands. The United States was caught off guard by Solomon Islands Prime!-->!-->…

Newcastle will be looking to land a top young striker this summer. There are a few high profile targets who continue to enter the conversation with Benfica's Darwin Nunez and Napoli's Victor Osimhen.However, it might take a miracle to…

Joe's morning cup May 2, 2022 Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Lamar!-->…

We live in a time of deeply contentious disagreements over a number of things, but most are political in nature or over things that, while not overtly political, have been politicized. When we disagree with each…

In New Zealand's most woke media (behind RNZ and The spin-off obviously), Stuff argues that there isn't really a fight for free speech in New Zealand… Authorization to express oneself freely: is freedom of!-->!-->…

As temperatures rise, flowers bloom, and days lengthen, we look forward to several exciting events that come with the onset of spring. In the case of the theater community, theater practitioners and fans alike are thrilled with the wide…

Do you want to see real confusion etched on a Christian face? Tell them that Hades is not the same as Hell and Heaven is not the same as Heaven. Then, just for fun, tell them that when people die they go to Hades…

BibleComfortforMentalHealth.com Author, Judith Beckman "BibleComfortforMentalHealth.com" by Judith Beckman, author of Book Vine Press, serves as a guide to help readers overcome their…

INDIANA (April 21, 2022) — Planting season is fast approaching for Indiana's 94,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine, motorists in Hoosier will also see more large, slow-moving farm equipment hitting Indiana's rural roads…

We think about death differently these days. The increase in cremation can only be called dizzying. As the Washington Post recently reported: “It is now more popular than a traditional casket burial, and twice as…

Many factors make edible gardening in Oklahoma difficult. Obviously, our weather presents some problems. Plants can generally adapt and withstand our very hot summers and even our cold winters, but it…

In 2013, North Dakota became the first state to pass a heartbeat law. This meant that one could not abort if there were signs of a beating heart. This bill would usher in a new era in the fight for the…

For the past few months, a man has started standing at the top of the freeway exit ramp near my house with a small cardboard sign asking for money. He is homeless. His name is Darren. I know because I asked him.…

AWARE: Glimpses of Consciousness is the fourth film collaboration between Eric Black and Frauke Sandigwho are based in San Francisco and Berlin respectively, but managed to collaborate on a film that involved traveling both around…

By Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeApril 18, 2022 In 1970, while on the faculty at Fordham University in New York, I taught a course on the development of African American literature. One of the books I used was William Wells Brown, Clotel or the…

For many people, 2022 has started with a lot of promise. But recent developments have once again reminded us of the consequences of living in a fallen world. Over the past few weeks, the headlines have been dominated by the…

Today begins the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread, better known as Passover. For Christians, today is observed as Good Friday, a less visible counterpart to the Resurrection Sunday that follows. However, while Christians do…

For many people, 2022 has started with a lot of promise. But recent developments have once again reminded us of the consequences of living in a fallen world. Over the past few weeks, the headlines have been dominated by the…

Tomorrow is Good Friday, and Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection are on my mind — as they should be.For some reason my mind wondered if Jesus died for the narcissist.Let me start by saying that the term…

We all remember watching the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland when Denmark's best player Christian Eriksen collapsed near the touchline.It was said to be cardiac arrest rather than a heart attack - and this indicates some…

A Palestinian child watches as Israeli soldiers patrol the West Bank city of Hebron, Monday, September 23, 2013. Unknown gunmen shot and killed an Israeli soldier in the Biblical West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday, and troops!-->…

Cars driving at ridiculous speed and rushing between cars like stunts on a movie set. Road rage erupts into gunshots. Behavior in airplanes similar to an MMA match. School board meetings requiring police…

BY TOM EARLY - ST. EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ALBAN As the church prepares to walk with Christ the week before his death, I wonder how you are preparing for this occasion of holy remembrance. This is a very special time for Christians around…

BY TOM EARLY - ST. EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ALBAN As the church prepares to walk with Christ the week before his death, I wonder how you are preparing for this occasion of holy remembrance. This is a very special time for Christians around…

One of the easiest things to grow in Oklahoma is bell peppers. Since there are thousands of varieties, almost everyone can find at least one or two that they like to eat and cook with. They don't take…

You may have heard of Restoration House, founded by Theresa Klacman in 2008. The house has helped literally…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Looks like Daniel Snyder made fun of the…

As we discussed last time, Patheos is making the Cranach blog "premium content", available by subscription. It will start next Monday, April 4th. You can access the homepage as usual. You can see what the posts are about,…

Last Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed legislation banning classroom teaching and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools, especially kindergarten and third grade.…

Russia's stance during yesterday's peace talks in Turkey demonstrated the difficult position Putin finds himself in. The Russians said that as a sign of good faith, they would reduce military activity around kyiv!-->!-->…

By Emmanuel Naweji - Harris-Lake Park United Methodist Churches It's April, and also my time to share some thoughts with you. So the following lines are a note on the most important and celebrated events for the church: Easter.As you…

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe readers adjust to their busy work day with some football links, goofy news and a pleasant distraction. Entertainment of the day Do the Giants even know what to do with…

The latest Pew Research Center survey found that about as many people who returned to in-person services six months ago are about the same number attending now. In other words, while the situation has improved…

The Hebrew Bible does not mince words about the worship of Moloch. According to Leviticus, anyone in the land of Israel who gave their children to Moloch was to be put to death; not only that, God would "set my face against this man,…

The Hebrew Bible does not mince words about the worship of Moloch. According to Leviticus, anyone in the land of Israel who gave their children to Moloch was to be put to death; not only that, God "would set my face against this man…

The Hebrew Bible does not mince words about the worship of Moloch. According to Leviticus, anyone in the land of Israel who gave their children to Moloch was to be put to death; not only that, God "would set my face against this man…

The Hebrew Bible does not mince words about the worship of Moloch. According to Leviticus, anyone in the land of Israel who gave their children to Moloch was to be put to death; not only that, God "would set my face against this man…