The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2C: Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1Pet. 5:5b) Over the past couple of weeks, I have, perhaps rashly, taken a plunge into the vast sea of the virtue that the New Testament calls tapeinophrosúne, aka humility. After two blog posts, I still feel no...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2b: Phil. 2:3 – In humility esteem one another as surpassing yourselves. Today – Friday March 30 – the great majority of Christians in the world reflect on the events of the first of the three most important days in history, the three days encompassing Jesus’...... Read More

Faith working through love (Gal. 5:6): An introduction to the “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament In his letter to some unnamed group of disciples, James, the brother of Jesus, makes the familiar and formerly controversial statement that “faith without works is dead.” I don’t know that James’ comment is particularly divisive in...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 10: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God. To this point, every Beatitude that we have considered has opened for us a plethora of questions of lesser or greater complexity. This week’s verse is no different, except that I’m...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 7b: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Last week we considered the fact that, when God answers the question, “Who are You?” his self-descriptive disclosure is this: The Lord, the Lord; God gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness … From...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 7a: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. My wife Joanne and I often have a discussion about people whom we know and the positive traits that make them who they are. In some of our conversations, we discuss certain individuals who we are convinced will inhabit a...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 5: Blessed are the meek; they shall inherit the earth. OK, let’s get this out of the way. When I am driving behind you on a two-lane, double yellow line road and you are poking along at five miles per hour over the speed limit OR LOWER, I am not...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 4: Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. If we know anything about Jesus, it is that his simple sayings never are. The Beatitudes are no exception. Each statement prompts questions that beget more questions until we have a whole noisy clan of them begging for our attention....... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God “Popularity is when other people like you. Happiness is when you like yourself.” – Michael Murdock, “You were born to win; you were born for greatness, you were created to be a champion in life” (Joel...... Read More