The government of Malaysia spends billions to build mosques. And hundreds of millions to train, deploy and support Muslim clerics and officials. The chief organ for such work is JAKIM, the Department for Development (“promotion” may be more accurate) of Islam, with a budget of RM1.4 billion in 2021. JAKIM is at the Federal level. …
The lectionary readings for Sunday include Hebrews 12:18-29. Chapter 12 is the second to last chapter. In these verses, the writer, a pastor, offers the basis for the command he issued in verse 14: Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. The goal of life …
The lectionary readings for Sunday include Hebrews 11:29 to 12:2. Verse 29 is striking. It recounts not the faith of individual persons, but of “people,” of the Hebrews, the Israelites. They are commended for exercising faith. For crossing the Red Sea, “as on dry land.” Their crossing of the Red Sea as the waters parted …
They conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises Read More »
Lectionary readings for Sunday (tomorrow). Nogalski on Hosea 11:1-11 The images in Hosea 11:1-8 depict YHWH as a tender, loving father in a way unlike any other biblical text. The passage’s form comes close to that of a soliloquy, providing the reader the ability to hear YHWH’s internal struggle over whether to punish his wayward …
God as conflicted father and the church as recalcitrant teenager Read More »
Interviewer: What would you say was religious about your mother?Greg Jenkins: Everything that she did was through Christianity. The question “What kind of woman was Annapuranee Jenkins?” has been ringing in my head. Why? Because I write about inquests, a court-centred process whose goal is to find the cause of death of a person. And …
Actually, Annapuranee Jenkins is very newsworthy Read More »
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 …
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 …
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 …
