In Greek mythology Pandora was the first woman.  According to Hesiod’s Theogony, after Prometheus, a fire god and trickster, had stolen fire from heaven and bestowed it on mortals, Zeus, the king of gods, determined to counteract his blessing. He commissioned Hephaestus to fashion a woman out of earth and bestow upon her their choicest gifts.  Pandora (her name) had a jar containing all manner of...  Read More

In Mark Moore’s book Quest 52, he writes about the trial of Jesus, and how it shows us the preferred way to prepare in a crisis, versus the poor way to prepare when crisis occurs.  Let’s consider some related thoughts that we can learn from, as we gain insight into preparing for crisis.Once Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he is taken to the high priest. Technically, the high priest...  Read More

In the previous Cross Point we looked at how our salvation must come from the Lord, we cannot create our own salvation.  We must be clothed with Christ, which allows him to cover our sins.  Instead of a Fig Leaf Faith, we need a faith that has at its foundation true discipleship, following Jesus, trusting in him.  In this second article about faith, we look at our need to build on the foundation C...  Read More

At one point in his ministry, Jesus said that if you have faith as a mustard seed, you can do great things (Luke 17:5, 6).  Does that mean just a little faith is all we need?  In context, Jesus said this about faith to his apostles, not to the bigger crowd of followers.  The apostles would have miraculous abilities, to heal the sick, to raise the dead; but even for them it wasn’t unbridled ability...  Read More

“It’s money honey, if you want to get along with me,” sang Elvis.  Unfortunately, that attitude penetrates many people.  In the movie All the President’s Men, about the Watergate scandal, we heard the famous refrain, “Follow the money!” meaning the source of corruption can be found if you follow the money trail.  The apostle Paul would famously say, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of e...  Read More

“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us” (Psalm 78: 1-3). With these words this song begins, a maskil of Asaph.  A maskil is a poem or song that enforces wisdom, that calls on your intelligence, asking for piety.  ...  Read More

In the previous Cross Point about elders, I talked about the history of elders and the listed qualifications of elders in the New Testament provided by the apostles Paul and Peter.  As you look at the qualities, you may note a couple of things.  First, they are primarily providing a list of personal characteristics, which define a mature, seasoned, experienced, biblically educated man.  Again, no ...  Read More

Yes, I know, most people will think of an older person being cared for, maybe in a nursing home, when they read the title.  What I mean is almost the opposite of that.  I’m talking about Elders (shepherds, pastors), as in the church officials, who help care for the congregation.  As mature Christian men take on this role, what is expected of them?  More specific, what does the Bible say is expecte...  Read More

I just finished listening to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak to all of congress about how the United States has helped and hopefully will continue to help his country of Ukraine fight for freedom, and how they fight against the powerful lies of Russia’s elite, while Ukraine seeks to fight with dignity and for Truth, or “Pravda” in Ukrainian.  He said he believes they have already won the war f...  Read More

Type your new text here. There’s an old saying you’ve probably heard that goes, “I’m none the wiser.”  In other words, something has happened and yet I know no more, have gained no more wisdom, than before it happened. When I was college age, way back in the early 1970’s, the number of adult people who claimed no religious affiliation, who marked “none” on the question about religious affiliation,...  Read More

Type your new text here. One of the controversies you can find within Christianity is whether a person can become a Christ-follower, truly accepting Jesus in faith as a disciple, then later abandon the faith and no longer follow Jesus, losing the salvation they once had. Such appears to be the case with Demas.The apostle Paul mentions Demas in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 4, where he says...  Read More

What must it have been like for Joseph and Mary to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census?  And why would Mary even go, so close to delivering a child?  It would not have been an easy trip.  Most likely they did the normal thing for the time, avoiding Samaria, crossing to the east side of the Jordan River below the Sea of Galilee and then walking south until they crossed back near Jericho ...  Read More