Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | June 16, 2018
“Not long ago, I was reading the Sermon on the Mount with a rabbi. At nearly every verse he showed me very similar passages in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud. When we reached the words, ‘Turn the other cheek,’ he did not say this too is in the Talmud, but asked with a smile, ‘Do […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
Jesus ate with “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:2). Jesus ate with the religious folk of His day, the Pharisees (Luke 7:36). Bad exegesis says, “Wow, Jesus loved to eat!” Good exegesis says, “Wow, Jesus loves everyone!” That’s one key to getting people to listen. How are we doing on that? Recently the Supreme Court […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
If you know me, you know I have occasionally been known to make up words. Some of them were real words which I only learned later. Did you know God took an old word and made up a new definition? The word went all the way back to Homer, but was not used often until […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
A good reason to read your Bible daily is the good daily reminders. For example: CSB’17 Luke 12:2-3: “There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
Mission Statement: “I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!” (CSB’17 Luke 12:49). Mission Statement (again): “Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (CSB’17 Luke 12:51) Here we see two opposites: fire and […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
When I was in a preacher training program (like Paul with Timothy), someone made a “but” statement I have never forgotten: “You’re not the smartest young preacher, but… (followed by a compliment). I’ve never forgotten either the critique or compliment, but the criticism hit harder. There’s a good lesson here for all, especially parents. Correction […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
Do we know who we are? Maybe we need to introduce ourselves to ourselves. Samuel didn’t think much of David upon meeting him. And yet God said “Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Elizabeth didn’t think much of […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
Jesus wasn’t polite if, in polite company, you don’t talk about religion – especially bad religion. There was a time when Jesus was discussing religion that we see two warnings that still apply today. These reveal how one can know: 1) That we aren’t believing right; and 2) That we are dishonest in our religious […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
What makes us distinct? Israel began in Abraham with circumcision as a segregated symbol. The nation continued under Moses with dietary laws and the Sabbath, again as segregated symbols. Good Jews were marked by these distinguising features. What, if anything, symbolizes Christianity? One answer would be confessing Jesus as the son of David, and Son […]
PHall | June 16, 2018
I don’t know about his culture, but in ours…how embarrassing! To figure out who, look for the clues. And don’t be afraid to go out on a limb guessing! Knowing what little I do about him, he was used to people looking down on him – literally, socially, and spiritually. His job made him financially […]