Category Archives: Christianity

A Liturgical Interlude

Nearly two decades ago I found myself as an unusual student at a religious educational institution attending a discussion on the matter of liturgy. Both then and now this was a surprising and unusual interest and yet despite the fact … Continue reading

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And The Spirit And The Bride Say, Come

Earlier this evening, as I write this, I received a question from a friend of mine who belongs to a Church of God in her native New Zealand. She had an interaction with a couple of people who belong to … Continue reading

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The Harvest Truly Is Plentiful

[Note: The following is the prepared text for a sermonette given to the Portland congregation of the United Church of God on Sabbath, May 20, 2023.] As we approach the festival of Pentecost, it is worthwhile for us to ponder … Continue reading

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Laying Up Treasures In Hell

It has long been recognized that among the more notable and glorious uses of what is frequently deemed to be unrighteous mammon is for those earthly riches to fund heavenly projects. When one listens to beautiful music or travels to … Continue reading

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No Soul Is Ever Truly Free

Recently, freelance sports commentator Pat McAfee, who had previously had a long and successful career as a football player in the NFL before becoming a popular independent sportscaster, accepted a large deal to join ESPN sports. This move has attracted … Continue reading

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Movie Review: Patterns Of Evidence: Journey To Mount Sinai: Part Two

I was one of two people who sat in a theater outside of Portland, Oregon, one of the most irreligious cities of the United States, to watch a film that was made by a prolific documentary filmmaker who has made … Continue reading

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Vision Quest

When people speak about issues of vision, there is often a focus on physical vision, but even where one is using vision metaphorically in order to express some sort of moral or imaginative sight, there is often a great deal … Continue reading

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On The Virtue Of Longsuffering

If you consult a list of religious virtues, it does not take long to find the virtue of longsuffering. The capacity for enduring suffering without letting it destroy your attitude has long been prized by ethnical religious communities because life … Continue reading

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Ecclesiastes 11:2: On The Pragmatic Benefit Of Generosity

This evening, I found myself with a request from a loyal reader of this blog to explain a single verse of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 11:2, which reads: “Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,For you do not know what … Continue reading

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The Lord Said To My Lord

Psalm 110:1 is the first verse of one of the key psalms of the Bible, one that invites a great variety of questions, including the extent to which David was familiar with the nature of God. There are a few … Continue reading

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