Episodes
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Command #101 - Be Glad in All Circumstances
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Monday Oct 17, 2016
As we have noted before, many of Jesus' specific words must be broadened to incorporate the fullness of what he intended as Commands of obedience upon his followers.
Friday Oct 14, 2016
Command #100 - Obey the Commandments
Friday Oct 14, 2016
Friday Oct 14, 2016
This may appear on the surface to be identical with the first command: Obey my Commands. From Jesus' conversation with the man we call the "rich young ruler," however, the inference can be made that Jesus is specifically speaking of the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20.
Thursday Oct 13, 2016
COA #68 - Mind Your Own Business
Thursday Oct 13, 2016
Thursday Oct 13, 2016
Judy and I try to live by a maxim which is simply stated: If you are not part o f the problem, and not potentially part of the solution, stay out of it.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2016
Command #99 - Don't Heed False Prophets
Wednesday Oct 12, 2016
Wednesday Oct 12, 2016
Jesus often couched his teachings in the form of metaphors and parables for the curious purpose, if we are to take him at his word, of preventing those who are not in earnest about obeying him from understanding him.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2016
COA #67 - Do Not Be Foolish
Tuesday Oct 11, 2016
Tuesday Oct 11, 2016
Foolishness and wisdom are mirror opposite traits about which it is easy to make several wrong assumptions. The most serious of these is the assumption that both are somehow inborn.
Monday Oct 10, 2016
Command #98 - Give Generously, and Not Merely From Your Abundance
Monday Oct 10, 2016
Monday Oct 10, 2016
Giving, for many Christians, is founded on legalistic obligation based on the Old Testament tithe. It is doubtful, however, that a strong case can be made in the New Testament for the perpetuation of the tithe as commonly taught.
Friday Oct 07, 2016
Command #97 - Do Not Close Your Eyes to the Holy Spirit's Work
Friday Oct 07, 2016
Friday Oct 07, 2016
Probably the most feared sin in the world, "the Great Sin," is what we commonly refer to as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Thursday Oct 06, 2016
COA #66 - Do Not Be Irritable or Resentful
Thursday Oct 06, 2016
Thursday Oct 06, 2016
The familiar words of 1 Corinthians 13:5 provide an intriguing example where different translations render a passage of Scripture with distinct shades of meaning. The particular phrase of interest to us here reads, Love..."is not irritable or resentful," in the RSV. The NIV has it, Love..."is not easily angered." Finally, the KJV presents the same passage as, Love..."is not easily provoked." It is clear that all three shed enormous light on this often overlooked attribute of love.
Wednesday Oct 05, 2016
Command #96 - Do Not Give Way to Anger
Wednesday Oct 05, 2016
Wednesday Oct 05, 2016
Paul's famous statement in Ephesians (4:26) "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger," is often used to excuse anger, so long as we don't let it go on too long.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2016
COA #65 - Live Without Guile
Tuesday Oct 04, 2016
Tuesday Oct 04, 2016
Guilelessness is one of the most intriguing of all the New Testament virtues, possibly because guile is not a word we use in everyday conversation. We know generally what it means. But its subtleties and nuances mostly escape us.