Bible blog

by Reverend Dr. Clark G. ArmstrongMarshall Church of the Nazarene I like a good riddle. But I did not expect one to be embedded in the sacred writings of scripture. Right there in Isaiah 41, I found it in two verses. There didn't seem…

By Gary Olson - retired pastor At the conclusion of the gospel of John are the words: “It is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote them, and we know that his testimony is true” (21:24). "But there are also many other…

The enormous popularity of the Marvel film franchise suggests that Americans today are hungry for heroes. Captain America, Captain Marvel, Iron Man — these comic book characters and more have inspired…

If you've spent any time in the market, you know what a SWOT analysis is. It's when you look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats a business faces in its efforts to find and experience growth.…

According to several polls and surveys, there is a group that is preventing current vaccines from winning over COVID-19: … White evangelical Christians. Currently, around 41 million people reside in the United…

Hello friends! A excellent new summary of what is happening with "faith" in the NT by Nijay Gupta: Mark Twain once said wryly, “Faith is believing that what you know is not. Many Christians, including myself, would have a lot of…

How this blog came to be and why I am continuing it I started this blog about ten years ago after a lot of gentle pressure from friends. Since its inception, I have posted approximately 1,700 separate essays here. Every time I sit down…

by Reverend Dr Clark G. ArmstrongMarshall Church of the Nazarene I know five people since Christmas who have committed suicide. As pandemic restrictions, closures, quarantines, economic side effects, family and personal challenges…

Genesis 1: 1-3. We all know that - and it's crystal clear, isn't it? In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.And the earth was formless and empty; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved…

Jesus and the bread During this Lenten Series, our church staff preach through a book titled “Lent: In Plain Sight: A Devotional Through Ten Objects,” by Jill Duffield. The premise of the book is that ordinary objects can invite us to…

February has been a busy month in our homes, but now is the time to return to The Bible and ancient science by Denis Lamoureux. What is the message of the Bible? Denis finds that for him "reading the Bible is a mystical experience.…

We can all benefit from rethinking our petition prayers, what we ask of God. My own belief is that we are breaking into the presence of God. Instead of barging in, I recommend that we reflect on what it is about God that would make God…

There are times when you are meditating on the mystery of God and your mind comes to a point where you cannot collect all the truths in one place at the same time. Your eyes meet, smoke comes out of your ears, and your brain bypasses. At…

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40 days of Lent. For reasons unknown to us, the span of 40 - whether 40 days or 40 years - has been significant throughout biblical history: The great flood lasted…

A plea and a warning for "evangelization" "I'm surprised people are still trying to run in these circles." This is what my colleague, a New Testament scholar who adheres to all ecumenical beliefs and staunchly defends the inspiration of…

Jesus saves: more than words By Heather L. Hart The United States is not a Christian nation. It's a nation with Christians. The expression of the Christian faith has been problematic in our history. This story includes both the…

I have been walking with "spiritual lameness" for some time now. I have been on top of a mountain in the past, have spoken face to face with God, and have been enveloped in the cloud of Christ's presence. But I also spent long nights in…

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my way. As Christians, we take the Bible seriously as the Word of God. It provides the touchstone through which we can discern God's will and ways. Paul wrote to Timothy: But as for you,…

Fall 2020 has been a difficult semester. Last winter, before COVID-19 became a household word, I agreed to double-teach in the fall to fill a need in our department. (In exchange I have a light load this winter term.) Teaching in an…

The church's own practices, and by that I mean what we learn in sermons and conversations and the things we read, from reading the Bible can become obstacles. Anyone who has taught the Bible as I have for nearly forty years encounters…

Have you ever received an SMS that was not intended for you? A few years ago, I was texting a man who was a dear friend and mentor. We corresponded about a job opportunity and made arrangements for future appointments. I deeply admire…

In my youth group right now we are talking about how to read the Bible. In our week one Zoom meeting, I started by asking them a question. "Have you ever read anything in the Bible that created tension for you between what the text says…