After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17.1-2 from “Scripture in light of First Century History” at http://newjerusalemcommunity.blogspot.com/2012/04/moses-and-elijah-were-consider-to-be.html In the course of daily life, “Bob” is absolutely one of my favorite people to m

Then God said,  “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in His own Image, in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them.                                       Genesis 1.26-27 July 4 is actually a celebration of independence, specifically the birth of a new nation in

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10.29-31 Following a discussion the other day, a gentleman approached me and told me that he does not believe God controls things or predestines people or outcomes. He meant about the same thing as does a woman I know who assures me with a

He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but

Now this is eternal life: that they shall know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17.3 A friend tells the story of going for a walk with his six-year-old daughter some years ago, and as six-year-olds do so well, she began questioning him about all sorts of serious matters. He answered as best he could, and after a bit, she was quiet for a moment, obviously deep in thought. Then she looked up at him and asked, “Daddy, why did you marry Mommy?” He

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8.26-28 A friend and I were talking

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2.4-7 This