Head-dibs

On one hand, I was surprised to hear this question come from a Kenyan pastor at the Pastor's Conference; but, on the other hand, remembering the animistic background and influences of the culture, this was a very important question from the student. We can easily turn in our Bibles to John 4:24 and say, "See there, Jesus says, 'God is Spirit,'" and be satisfied (for the most part) with the answer. Realize that we Westerners do not view the spirits in the same way as most others in the world, so this question comes as a "loaded" one. Interestingly, even the Western (neo)pagan, witch or other interested party should be interested in this question. I owe my good friend, Dr. Phil Steyne of Columbia International University , credit for the following: First, those outside the biblical worldview believe that all objects contain an impersonal power, or life-force. This "charge" flows from one object to another and is meant to be used and manipulated b...

[This post is a continuation of Sunday's post.] “ having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart .” (Ephesians 4:18) “ Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him .” (Proverbs 26:12) I Googled “Astaria” in the wee-hours of the morning and found next to nothing initially, apart from the name being used as a proper noun: a name for a certain restaurant; a town name (and that not being the town mentioned in scripture) [i] ; also the name of a complex role-playing game. After some searching, I did find one page that connected “Astaria” with a religion of some kind. Here is a link to what may be the most information that is “out there” (pun intended). Don’t spend too much time trying to figure it out (you won’t get those hours back again—besides, some people after 50 years still don’t have it figured it). “Astaria” seems to be a “quiet” form of ...

This is the third time I’ve had to restart this blog entry. Third time because the LORD has pointed so many things out to me in these first few chapters of Exodus that I have tried to capture them all. But I’ve decided not to do that. Instead I will focus on just one great overriding theme in these first few verses, and that would be found in the Egyptians. God demonstrates fully his divine plan. He has no opposition, really. Those who oppose Him only think they do. Remember the way God stripped the pantheon of the Egyptians in the creation account and in so-doing, demonstrated to the first audience of the book that there are no gods? Now He is doing it again. Every time God does something in Egypt, it is not so Charleton Heston can look good someday on the big screen. It was not solely for Israel’s deliverance either. It was for the promise laid in Abraham that the nations be blessed. God was moving against the gods of Egypt and those who worshipped them! Setting: the Jacobsons...