Category Archives: Biblical Studies

Are there errors in the Bible? Don’t ask.

Posted on December 4, 2014 by hessd

Imagine having a conversation with a man—it would be a man, I’m pretty sure—who wanted to “talk football” and whose only concern was with keeping the ball on the playing field.  That might go like this. Do you think they … Continue reading →

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In my Father’s house

Posted on November 26, 2014 by hessd

At my house, this is the year we study Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus.  Every Advent, we focus on one—only one—of the two narratives the Bible gives us about the birth of Jesus.  I’ve been doing this for … Continue reading →

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The President as Cherrypicker in Chief

Posted on November 22, 2014 by hessd

The Constitution identifies the President as the Chief Executive.  He is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.  Since the President is the principal source of major congressional considerations, he is often called the Chief Legislator.  It was not until President … Continue reading →

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The Gospel of Matthew in Pleasantville

Posted on November 20, 2014 by hessd

Halloween fell on November 1 this year.  Costumes, candy, trick or treaters—the whole thing.  On the morning of November 2, Starbucks started using their red “holiday” cups and offering the egg nog latté.  Ho ho ho. I’ve always been unhappy … Continue reading →

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Reaping to the Very Edge

Posted on October 8, 2014 by hessd

So…here’s an idea you might not have considered for a while. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the … Continue reading →

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Plan B

Posted on September 20, 2014 by hessd

No one knows what God first had in mind for our species. Genesis gives us one picture of it.  One.  This is it. “The man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the … Continue reading →

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Christian Movie Reviews

Posted on August 9, 2014 by hessd

English is a hard language.  Word order, in the absence of agreement by tense, person, and number, is just really important.  Too important.  So the title might ask us to find a bunch of Christian movies and review them.  Then … Continue reading →

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Do You Understand What You Are Reading?

Posted on January 10, 2014 by hessd

I take the title from the question Philip asks the government official in Acts 8:30.  The official is reading Isaiah and Philip runs up to the chariot to ask if the official is reading with understanding.  The two passages I … Continue reading →

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He Said/She Said: the Two Narratives of the Birth of Jesus

Posted on December 15, 2013 by hessd

I have known for several decades that we have two accounts of the birth of Jesus.  It had not occurred to me until yesterday that one of them (Matthew) has Joseph in the foreground and Mary in the background, while … Continue reading →

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Where you are going, you will need friends.

Posted on November 10, 2013 by hessd

The title is today’s text.  With no context at all, it seems at least plausible.  When we get down to it, the context I will supply for “where you are going” will be the fact that we are all mortal.  The … Continue reading →

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