Today’s one year Bible reading passage from the Hebrew scriptures begins the Book of Job. Continue reading
Some Quick Thoughts On Popular Christian Memes About The 2017 Eclipse
1. Total Solar Eclipses Are Not Rare, But Seeing One May Be
Although an individual, remaining in a single region her or his whole life, may never see a total eclipse or perhaps witness such an eclipse only once or twice in a lifetime, the occurrences of total eclipses is not rare. Total solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world about every 18 months. There will be five in the next six years:
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The Talmud on Eclipses
Here is the only section I have found in the Babylonian Talmud which discuses eclipses (note that the phrase that is translated “lights are in eclipse” is literally comparable to “lights are stricken”): Continue reading
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A Prayer for the U.S. Today and In the Days to Come
God, change the hearts and minds of these ignorant and foolish men in the photo above. May they know You, the Creator of all people in Your image. May their hearts be illumined with the light of Your love more than these torches of hate that illumine their faces. May they be transformed. Continue reading
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Tensions in the Bible: Paul and James
I’ve had several different conversations this week about tensions in the Bible, and how we often want to minimize, explain away, or ignore those tensions. It reminded me of some material from a post I wrote several years ago, reworked and updated here: Continue reading
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Rising Star, Ruthless Rebel, and False Messiah: Bar Koseba, Bar Kokhba, Bar Koziba
Fifty-seven years ago today Yigael Yadin announced the discovery of letters written by Bar Kochba, the leader of the third Judaean rebellion against Rome (from 132-134 C.E.). These letters reveal that his real name was Shimon Bar Koseba. Tradition holds that the name Bar Kokhba was given to him by Rabbi Akiva, who believed that the rebel leader might be the Messiah. Bar Kochba means “son of a star” and alludes to a portion of Numbers 24:17as a Messianic prophecy: “There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Continue reading
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It Is Time For An Independent Investigation
I haven’t made a political post about the President in a long time, but today’s actions (the firing FBI Director Comey by President Trump) are extremely troublesome.
I just want to remind everyone of a few things: Continue reading
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The Signs of the Kingdom
The disciples of John the Baptist came to him and said, “We were sent by John to ask you, ‘Are you the One? Or should we look for another?'” Continue reading
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A Name Reveals A Lot
Sometimes the scripture has these often brief, but revealing, almost tongue-in-cheek elements (that I love) in which it feels like the reader is sort of let in on a joke or a story where everything may not quite be what it seems.
In the Book of Judges, the people come to Gideon and say, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Continue reading
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Jordan: Our First Home Visit
Our first afternoon in Mafraq, John Hollon, two other volunteers, and I had the opportunity to go on a home visit. These are visits where we accompanied one of the local full time servants who provide on-going care and have relationships with Syrian refugees who have moved into the area. For us, this servant was Egab, a man with a huge smile and a humorous joy that seems unending. On our way we make a stop to pick up some diapers, formula, and a few other supplies. These are for a new baby in the family.
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Purim
Purim is a holiday celebrated by Jewish people for centuries to commemorate the defeat of Haman, who had plotted to have all the Jews massacred in the kingdom of the Xerxes, king of Persia. This sinister plot is revealed and ultimately stopped due to the boldness of Esther and her uncle Mordecai. You can read all about this in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. Continue reading
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Is This Making Us Great?
Henry Rousso, a Jewish Holocaust historian and Egyptian-born French citizen, was detained by U.S. officials for ten hours after his eleven hour flight from France and was about to be returned to Paris before faculty at Texas A&M University, where he was scheduled to speak, intervened. Continue reading
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