Head-dibs

Question: The Bible says that God walks (Genesis 3:8; Deuteronomy 23:12-13), stands (Exodus 34:5), has a face (Exodus 33:11, 20), hands (Exodus 33:22-23), has loins and “backparts” (Exodus 33:23; Ezekiel 1:27, 8:2) and there are other passages refer to his eyes, breath, feet, even wings; yet Jesus says that God is spirit (John 4:24) and does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Does God have a body, or not? Answer: Let’s approach from this direction: God is a living person with intellect, sensibility, emotions, volition (power of will) and attributes. He is also immaterial. These and other texts use anthropomorphic language to describe God, apart from those instances when God appeared in human form as the Angel of the Lord. Jesus is God in observable form. Since He is unlimited and independent of time, space, matter and motion, God is unrestricted in how He chooses to manifest Himself. These anthropomorphisms help us makes sense of his interests, powers and activities. Here i...

Do you have any heroes? Yes, I suppose I have two or three. If you could choose one, who would it be? Now, that’s a very good question, but I have one of my own: how does one choose one hero above another? Do you think it might be helpful to first know what a hero is? What is hero? Is a hero someone admired, looked up to? If so, what makes him so attractive? Is he superhuman, or simply extraordinary? What would you say makes a hero? First, wouldn’t we be best served to remember where we get our word, “hero?” I remember Hero of Alexandria . . . The one who lived about 70 AD? Yes, he’s the one. And there is Hero “the Younger,” who was a land surveyor who lived some 400 years before him . . . And these are the progenitors of our name? No. We should remember in this case Hero, the son of Priam, King of Troy or perhaps Hero, the priestess of Aphrodite. The former would probably be our patriarch as it pertains to a person. But what does the word mean? So good of you t...

I would rather work a puzzle than play a game and here’s why: puzzles lead to solutions and games end with a judgment; puzzles cultivate will and games exploit weakness; puzzles foster cooperation and games nurture rivalry; puzzles elevate, encourage, bring completion and satisfaction to participants while in games thrive castigation, discouragement, irresolution and dissatisfaction. The difference may also be seen by considering what it means to “win.” G. K. Chesterton wrote in his essay, “There is no such thing as backing a winner. There is no such thing as fighting on the winning side. One fights to find out which is the winning side.” (“Part One: The Homelessness of Man” in What’s Wrong with the World.) Trying to understand what this means, I think of a cartoon clipping is posted on the door of one of my colleagues. The panel depicts two soldiers pouring hot oil on the enemy below the castle. One says to the other, “Win or lose, I love doing this.” Many don’t know when to stop, a...

I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna or on any river for that matter to be perfectly honest. Not in July or any month have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure-- of fishing on the Susquehanna. I am more likely to be found in a quiet room like this one-- a painting of a woman on the wall, a bowl of tangerines on the table-- trying to manufacture the sensation of fishing on the Susquehanna. There is little doubt that others have been fishing on the Susquehanna, rowing upstream in a wooden boat, sliding the oars under the water then raising them to drip in the light. But the nearest I have ever come to fishing on the Susquehanna was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia when I balanced a little egg of time in front of a painting in which that river curled around a bend under a blue cloud-ruffled sky, dense trees along the banks, and a fellow with a red bandanna sitting in a small, green flat-bottom boat holding the thin whip of a pole. ...

Question:   The Bible says those who gain wisdom will have knowledge, understanding, even glory (Proverbs 3:35; 4:7; 10:14; 23:23), receiving something better than gold and strength (Proverbs 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18). Anyone who lacks wisdom is to ask of God (James 1:15); yet, God does not regard the wise (Job 37:24) and will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19). Please explain this apparent contradiction. Answer:   Let’s approach this from a different angle by thinking about the qualities necessary for one to be a public leader, a governor, specifically. The ancient Romans valued honesty, simplicity and strength, unlike their Greek predecessors. The Roman family was unified under the rule of the patriarch (who could preside as judge in family trials) and one family was one building block in the structure that was the whole of national government. One might say the Romans were organized, but within themselves. An official, then, must be either elected or ...

To meet the growing need for chaplains in the United States, Columbia International University is now offering master’s degrees in chaplaincy. Beginning in the fall semester, students can begin working toward a Master of Divinity (Chaplaincy) or a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy in CIU Seminary & School of Ministry. These degrees will equip students to minister in a variety of settings including military chaplaincy, institutional chaplaincy such as police chaplain or hospital chaplain, and organizational chaplaincy that focuses on the corporate world, sports and those involved in crisis management. Dr. John Harvey , the associate dean of CIU Seminary & School of Ministry says the chaplain is playing an increasingly important role in today’s world.  “In an increasingly un-churched society, the chaplain is the person people turn to in a time of crisis,” Harvey said. Harvey also notes that CIU is strategically located for a variety of chaplaincy work. “The chaplain ...

Themes of Ephesians 2 surface again in Romans 5, which should come as no surprise, considering the source. We who needs be reminded often are able to learn once again a deeper truth concerning the principle set forth here, namely, that when we are at our worst, God did his best. We often use the phrase, “I did my best,” when we return to the dug-out after striking out; Or when scooping up the casserole off the floor between the kitchen and dinner table; Or realizing that all the time you spent caulking the bathroom, you used the wrong caulk. Not so with God. When He gave His best, that’s all He had and He accomplished all He set out to do in giving His best. There was no defeat on His part. Look at what Paul wrote: We were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2), without strength (Ro 5); He made us alive in Christ Jesus (Eph 2), who died for the ungodly while we were still sinners (Ro 5); He in his rich mercy loved us (Eph 2), demonstrating that love in Christ’s death (Ro 5); We...

According to Brueghel when Icarus fell it was spring a farmer was ploughing his field the whole pageantry of the year was awake tingling near the edge of the sea concerned with itself sweating in the sun that melted the wings' wax unsignificantly off the coast there was a splash quite unnoticed this was Icarus drowning

Question: The Bible says that those who gain wisdom will have knowledge, understanding, even glory (Proverbs 3:35; 4:7; 10:14; 23:23), receiving something better than gold and strength (Proverbs 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18). Anyone who lacks wisdom is to ask of God (James 1:15); but why does it say that God does not regard the wise (Job 37:24) and will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19)? Please explain this apparent contradiction. Answer: "Apparent" is the key word here. To begin with, let’s think over simplistically for a moment about the qualities necessary for one to be a public leader, a governor, specifically. The ancient Romans valued honesty, simplicity and strength, unlike their Greek predecessors. The Roman family was unified under the rule of the patriarch (who could preside as judge in family trials) and one family was one building block in the structure that was the whole of national government. One might say the Romans were organized, but ...

BookMooch.com is a book trade site If you see a book you like and do not have a Book Mooch account, I am willing to trade for a book on my wishlist (US only, no international shipping). Just drop me an e-mail or a comment: Swap your books at BookMooch.com

I wish I had the time to go down on the street and interview people for some “live” answers to the question: “How does a person get to heaven?” or “How does a person know he or she is right with God?” I can only begin to imagine the answers: “You don’t. You just have to take your chances.” “I am in control of my own destiny. I don’t need God.” “Heaven is a state of mind” or “Heaven is here on earth” (like, “Hell is here on earth,” right?) “You have to learn what you need to know to get there. Can we visit your home to tell you more about it?” “Go to church, be good. Get job, go to school.” “God will save everybody because He is love and forgives.” “Admit we have broken God’s law and are helpless in sin. We need to receive His grace and mercy and forgiveness by faith because Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay our penalty for us.” I am firmly convinced that every person is mentioned in the Bible and the New Testament book of Ephesians is just one place we can find one...

“Now Morn her rosy steps in th’Eastern Clime Advancing, sow’d the Earth with Orient Pearl, When Adam wak’t, so custom’d, for his sleep Was Airy light, from pure digestion bred, And temperate vapours bland, which th’only sound Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora’s fan, Lightly dispers’d, and the shrill Matin Song Of Birds on every bough . . .” (From John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Book V. 1671 ed.)

Question: Why does the Old Testament say that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18), and that finding a wife is a good thing (Proverbs 18:22); yet, the New Testament says it is good that a man should not touch a woman (1 Corinthians 7:1)? Is marriage a good thing? Answer: A wife is such a good find that marriage protects both man and wife. Paul did not say that a man could not touch a woman, thus making marriage bad. The word “touch” used by Paul includes the idea of “fasten to, adhere” and “to set on fire.” What he said was, “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.” In other words, marriage protects from immorality. Look at it this way: if two people are married, even flirting with someone is not permissible because it misdirects emotions and this can lead to lust, which is adultery. The man is to have his own ...

John Starke at the Gospel Coalition offers five pointers on " How To Write A Great Book Review (Or At Least How Not To Write A Bad One) ." There is not your standard academic style! Why do they say that new research is just discovering that planes make rain when we were taught this in Elementary School as early as the 1970's (for me, at least)? The state of South Carolina is abuzz after the University of South Carolina Gamecocks won back-to-back national baseball championships.  But one of Columbia International University 's biggest baseball fans was not in the state to celebrate - he wasn't even in the country .

Have you read Rob Bell's book "Love Wins?" Do you agree with his conclusion?  What is your response to Rob Bell, personally?  Would you happen to have William Barclay's commentaries on your shelf?  Are you still are a C.S. Lewis fan? "I am a convinced universalist. I believe that in the end all men will be gathered into the love of God . . ."  (Barclay, William.  William Barclay: A Spiritual Autobiography . Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 1977. Note pages 65-67). "There are people in other religions who are being led by God's secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity, and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it . . . . For example a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (though he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain points. Many of the good Pagans long before Chri...

While you are packing your swim trunks and stocking up on sun screen, see if you can name these famous bodies of water. Oh, and you can use these as diving boards (spring boards, get it? It’s a joke) for witnessing situations while waiting in line for smoothies, or the high-dive, or while floating in the lazy river: 1) Jesus told a blind man to wash in this pool and receive sight. 2) Naaman “dipped” in this river and was healed of leprosy. 3) Daniel saw a vision of a ram in this river. 4) Ezekiel saw visions of God here. 5) Elijah slew the prophets of Baal near this brook. 6) Moses led the Israelite through dry land to this sea. 7) Another name for the Sea of Galilee. 8) A river that flows out of Eden. 9) The water here was bitter. 10) Seraiah was commanded to read a book and cast it into this river. 11) Jesus taught from a ship in this body of water.

The Land of Freedom One of the great blessings we enjoy in the United States of America is freedom. We all have the freedom to live our own life, choose our own path, and use our abilities for our own gain as well as for the good of others. We have the freedom to choose our leaders and the freedom to worship God without fear of interference from the government. Freedom’s Cost All of these freedoms are great blessings, but they were not won without a cost. Our forefathers took a stand for these freedoms and defended them, whatever the price. Since then, countless brave men and women have stood up to protect this great country, to secure its freedoms, and to promote the cause of freedom around the world. Many of them have paid the ultimate price, and we honor their sacrifice. A Greater Freedom There is an even greater freedom which can be possessed and enjoyed by every person on the face of the earth, regardless of their social standing or nationality. This is freedom from sin...

Today our second daughter is getting married.  Here are 30 of the World's Greatest Wedding Cakes for you! Enjoy this video of their engagement party: Congratulations Rachel and Kelvyn! May God richly bless you!