Category Archives: Hebrew Bible

Popular mistranslations in Psalms 23 and 118

The minister with youth has been taking Hebrew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and we have had some interesting conversations. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. – Psalm 23:6 The Hebrew verb … Continue reading

Posted in Hebrew, Hebrew Bible, Hermeneutics (Interpretation), Theology | Comments Off

Grace and providence in small random decisions

Testimony time. I am fascinated by the significance of small random decisions. When I do something unusual and/or unexpected. Two recent examples. I hate WalMart. I hate shopping. But need to eat something for lunch. Because it is Lent need … Continue reading

Posted in Ecclesiastes, Ministry, Personal, Theology | Comments Off

REVIEW – “How to Train Your Dragon”

Whenever my kids complain about how cold it is I remind them of their Viking ancestors. “How to Train Your Dragons” tells the story of a boy who lives in a Viking village where it snows 70% of the year … Continue reading

Posted in Hebrew Bible, Movies and film, Theology | Comments Off

Ecclesiastes: Preacher of Surprising Joy 2/4

This is part 2. What Qohelet observes about the cosmos and about life and conclude everything is hebel. Adobe Acrobat and PowerPoint files for the presentation. Ecclesiastes study presentation 2/4 PowerPoint Ecclesiastes study presentation 2/4 PDF

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Does the resurrection mean Ecclesiastes has nothing to say?

I do not think I did very well teaching Ecclesiastes last Sunday. Several people have said they disagree. In a nutshell have been emphasizing what Qohelet aka Ecclesiastes says is hebel. Human beings are finite. No one knows the future. … Continue reading

Posted in Ecclesiastes, Personal | 1 Comment

Ecclesiastes: Preacher of Surprising Joy 1/4

For years I have looked forward to teaching the book of Ecclesiastes in a church wide Bible study. Here are the PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat files for the first presentation. Ecclesiastes study presentation 1/4 Ecclesiastes study presentation 1/4 – PDF

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They ask the questions we avoid (or) Why does God save yet not prevent?

I have one of the best jobs on the planet. Pastoring a small church whose primary ministry is with international students and scholars. Most of whom are here for a limited period of time. Many of whom are studying the … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, Hebrew Bible, Internationals, Personal, Theology, Tolkien | 2 Comments

My Who Dat? post (or) Why sports?

[I tried to add a good picture here but this just updated version of WordPress for some reason will not allow me to do that.] Donald Miller in his excellent book Searching for God Knows What? wonders what would happen … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Hebrew Bible, Sports | Comments Off

What makes worship?

At the “Service of Reconciliation” the evening after the senior pastor resigned rather abruptly several spoke positively of the second worship service. Many along the lines of “as long as people are worshiping the Lord who cares what instruments they … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Practice, Hebrew Bible, Worship and Liturgy | Comments Off

Those who "sleep" (or) Moebius syllogism?

A turning point(?) in my theological understanding of death was when during Introduction to Christian Mission my fine professor Isam Ballenger rather strongly state “the Christian faith does not teach the immortality of the soul – it teaches resurrection of … Continue reading

Posted in Hebrew Bible, Logic and Reason, New Testament, Theology, Uncategorized | 6 Comments