FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah…as a wife.   Joshua 15:17 Debir was the name of the city that fell to Caleb’s nephew. Known also as Kiriath-sepher, “City of Books,” it was home to the Anakim, a race of giants. The spies sent by Moses ahead of the conquest, reported feeling like “grasshoppers” in comparison. He and Joshua famously opted for an immediate invasion, but became subject also to the 38-year wilderness wanderings

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus…I urge you, then, be imitators of me .       1 Corinthians 4:15-16 Having yanked out the pedestal from under his own feet, Paul continued warmly, “I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children…I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” The gospel, mind you, not through professional training, ecclesiastical

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus…I urge you, then, be imitators of me .       1 Corinthians 4:15-16 Depending on our denominational tradition, we do call our top man father, as well as the man of the cloth or man of the collar. In non-denominational circles he may be the fellow with a fondness for flip-flops and cool shirts. Many guys wear them, so it could be difficult to discern at first g

Moses, Moses! …put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.  Exodus 3:4-5 It is now do-or-die time, but God will not allow us to move on the impulse of a moment. We only have our Midian and Egypt on the brain. Our burning desire for a passage between the two that sounds plausible, impels us to rush at Him as our Helper. He, however, has shown up as the Holy One of Israel. His chief motivation is Covenant. In our very personal appo

Moses, Moses! …put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.  Exodus 3:4-5 Are we as curious about the burning bush as Moses was? His landmark encounter with God would take him from tending sheep in Midian to masterminding Israel’s exodus from hostile Egypt. If our curiosity sends us to the Bible dictionary, we find that the information listed under Vegetable Kingdom cannot deliver the spark of illumination that leaps from the plai

Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.  John 8:58 If we bring our inborn naivety as “world view” to Christ’s Nativity, we readily concede that the baby lying in a manger in Mozambique should be dark-skinned. Chinese Christians should not have to travel west for a white infant. We are fine with people in the north who lay their Inuit baby Jesus on a seal skin. Most newborns turn red as a beet when they scream. Some show up bald and wrinkled; some emerge with a f

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel…And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  Luke 2:25;36 “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21). An angel also told Joseph in a dream that Mary’s son was to be named Jesus, “for he will save his

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel…And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  Luke 2:25;36 What is the difference between “waiting for” and “waiting on”? Far from being a trick  question, it hints at a language lesson Luke might have wanted to insert to enhance his exhaustive telling of the Nativity story. So we brace for some New Testament

The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must  not reach out, take from the tree of life, and live forever.” …He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.  Genesis 3:22-24 The fragrant live tree in its prime, set up in the homes of God-loving families, marks Christmas Day as a cherished event.  Advent is known as a sacred season of

The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must  not reach out, take from the tree of life, and live forever.” …He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.  Genesis 3:22-24 This “tree of life” was the forbidden tree in paradise, prompting the serpent to ask Eve if she really meant to take God’s warning seriously. In doing so, Satan s

Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips… and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous things with this people…   Isaiah 29:13-14 Thanksgiving Day in many homes is a lavish affair with many guests. Out come the obligatory folding tables for the youngsters. Let them giggle and wiggle and gobble to their hearts’ content. Do they ever talk – or do we – about what else might go on in

Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips… and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous things with this people…   Isaiah 29:13-14 Something good can be said for the grumpy son who disgraced his generous father. His many days of labor in the field provided the bountiful food served at that lavish homecoming party. Too bad the hard worker did not have a field day. The dictionary def

Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.  Luke 15:25 Our passionate young, raised in the church, do mature to the point where critical thinking replaces compliant acceptance of our doings and sayings. They spot the incongruities and balk at stale traditions. They wrestle with the Jesus of their Sunday school innocence. As the Superman of Bible heroes,

Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant.  Luke 15:25 We could tell him! It meant he was so emotionally distant from his father as if the field he toiled in that day had been the geographically “far country” of the younger son’s wasteful living. It meant he was a deliberate miser, proud of his measly joys and starved relationships. He thrived on acting

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury...

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury...

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you…” And he…took the...

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you…” And he…took the...

When I began to memorize Scriptures years ago, I skipped linking them with specific books or chapters.. Today I paid the price, but had...

If he rescued righteous Lot…(for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day...