The lectionary readings for tomorrow include Hosea 1:2-10. Tomorrow, I’ll speak about it. So today, I’ll just share a short prayer written by Salim J Munayer, a Palestinian Christian, as a response to the book of Hosea. A prayer response to the book of Hosea Lord, may justice flow like a riverReaching barren lands and …
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of …
The lectionary readings for this Sunday include a wordplay vision. It’s found in the first three verses of Amos 8:1-12. It’s in the similarity in sound in the Hebrew words translated “summer fruits” and “silence” in the English Standard Version (ESV). Any student of the Bible, the Word of God, knows that there’s always mystery …
On Sunday, we heard again the text of the story popularly known as “The Good Samaritan.” It’s a story with five characters. They’re not given names like Ali, Ah Chong and Muthu. They’re given designations. The designation of one of them, “Samaritan,” instantly signals to Jesus’ audience a person who’s popularly regarded as vile, evil, …
Today’s Jericho roads, Samaritans, and religious folk Read More »
Did God approve prostitution as a punishment? Prophet Amos said something terrible to Amaziah, priest of Bethel, Israel. Claiming to speak for YHWH, Amos said Amaziah’s wife would become a prostitute. And that Amaziah’s children would die violent deaths. And that Amaziah would “die in an unclean land.” All that’s in in Amos 7:7-17, included …
The question “Should we expose kids to the book of Hosea?” is ringing in my mind. There are two reasons for this. First, I recently helped prepare a ten-year-old to read the scriptures publicly for the first time. Second, I plan to preach from Hosea 1:2-10 on 24 July. At every Sunday service, three or …
The lectionary readings for this Sunday include 2 Kings 5:1-14, which the English Standard Version titles “Naaman healed of leprosy.” It’s another of the puzzling stories God has caused to be recorded for us. If you’ve read my previous column, you’ll know of another puzzling story: the “appointment” of Hazael as king of Syria by …
People say that in the current generation, kids do not need to go to school for knowledge anymore, as the sum of almost all knowledge is now available to most people via the Internet. People also say that kids today have access to more information than their parents ever had at the same age. It …
Previously, I pointed out that God commanded the prophet Elijah to anoint horrible Hazael king of Syria. And that Elijah didn’t do so. Remarkably, God didn’t punish Elijah for his disobedience. In fact, God gave Elijah a unique “reward.” How so? Because Elijah didn’t die like others. His departure was miraculous. As stated in 2 …
“Why me? How could you let this happen, God?” (Doesn’t that sound familiar?) In the book of Ruth, there is this story of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi is a Jewess from Bethlehem, Judah. There was a famine in Israel. Naomi, her husband (Elimelech) and her two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) migrated to Moab to escape …
