April 1, 2016. April fool’s day is a unique cultural experience where people on a national level participate in various practical jokes and hoaxes. There is just something satisfying about tricking someone with a fake article or false claim, only to see their face drop when they realize they have been fooled. Perhaps there is even…
Tag: trust
The Christian Apologetic: Jesus Christ.
March 11, 2016. Over the past few weeks, I have been writing an apologetic for a discussion with a friend in Germany. It is an apologetic that I don’t think Christian communities use as often as we should, though I could just be wrong about the prevalence of the thoughts. When we ask the question,…
Nehemiah 1-7: Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.
December 22, 2015. Daily Reading: Nehemiah 1-7. Background: Until the third century AD, the book of Nehemiah was combined with the book of Ezra in a work that was referred to as either Ezra or Ezra-Nehemiah (see intro to Ezra). The book is a record of history continuing on after the temple was rebuilt under…
Psalm 129-131: Looking to the Lord.
December 2, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 129-131. Background: Psalm 126-128. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 129 Enduring affliction: Another psalm in the series of the songs of ascents (see psalm 120), this psalm recounts affliction that the people of Israel had endured from the people who oppressed them even from the beginning. As Israel was becoming a nation…
Psalm 120-122: Songs of Ascents.
November 11, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 120-122. Background: Psalm 119. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 120 A cry for deliverance: Psalm 120 begins a set of fifteen psalms (120-134) that are labeled as “Songs of Ascents,” a phrase of which different opinions have formed as to its meaning. Two notable views put forth that these psalms…
II Chronicles 16-20: Jehoshaphat.
November 3, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 16-20. Background: II Chronicles 11-15. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 16 The final years of Asa: For much of this chapter, see II Kings 15:17-24. The only part that is added here is verses 7-10, in which the Lord speaks to Asa through Hanani the seer rebuking him for relying…
II Chronicles 11-15: Rehoboam, Abijah and Asa.
October 27, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 11-15. Background: II Chronicles 6-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 Rehoboam: As the kingdom was divided in the previous chapter because of Rehoboam’s folly, we find him at the beginning of the chapter mounting an army to take back the tribes of Israel who were in rebellion against…
Hebrews 11-13: The outcome of faith.
October 25, 2015. Daily Reading: Hebrews 11-13. Background: Hebrews 9-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 The hall of faith: After demonstrating Christ as the bringer of a new and better covenant, showing Him though the Hebrew scriptures, the Hebrew writer goes onto here what is often referred to as the hall of faith. Defining faith…
Numbers 13-16: Rebelling against the Lord.
September 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Numbers 13-16. Background: Numbers 9-12. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 13 The spies and their report: As the children of Israel came to the edge of the promised land that the Lord their God had told them that He was going to give to them, He told Moses to send out…
Psalm 54-56: Trusting in the Lord in desperate situations.
May 13, 2014. Daily Reading: Psalm 54-56. Background: Psalm 51-53. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 54 Praying for deliverance: This psalm was written by David when he was fleeing from King Saul, who was trying to kill him out of jealousy. It specifically comes at a time when the Ziphites, in whose land David was dwelling to…
Psalm 42-44: Feeling abandoned.
April 15, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 42-44. Background: Psalm 39-41. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 42 A soul that thirsts for God: The psalmist here brings the imagery of a wild deer panting for water to describe his soul’s desire for the Lord, the presence of the Almighty. The psalmist is thirst for the living God, a…
I Samuel 11-15: Saul’s mistakes.
March 31, 2015. Daily Reading: I Samuel 11-15. Background: I Samuel 7-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 Becoming a king: Though Saul was chosen to be king in chapter 9 and anointed/presented as king in chapter 10, it isn’t until this chapter that he practically assumes his position. It seems as though Saul needs to prove…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 