PHall | November 10, 2010
Ironically, his name means “God is gracious.” Irony is found again in the meaning of her name – “beautiful.” Let’s see if you can figure out the real names and why this is ironical. Both had been blessed by God financially. You could say that God had been very gracious to them. In fact, since […]
Category: Acts |
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Tags: Article
PHall | October 25, 2010
Some of you are sitting in the pews, but just barely. It’s possible you are here because you have a drug problem…your parents drug you to church. It’s possible you are here, but not all of you. I’m not saying you are not “all there,” but rather not all of you is, “all here.” Your […]
Category: Mark, Luke, John, Acts, I Corinthians |
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Tags: Apologetics, Sermon
PHall | September 1, 2010
The greatest religious radical was the greatest law keeper who saves the greatest lawbreakers if they obey the great gospel of grace (Acts 20:24; Romans 10:16; 1 Timothy 1:15). How radical is that?! How great is that?!
Category: Acts, Romans, I Timothy |
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Tags: Perryisms
PHall | August 14, 2010
All of a sudden, almost without warning, the church had a problem on its hands. It is new and difficult, and one they never had to deal with before, let alone even think much about it. And trust me, thinking hurts! Especially is this true when it is challenging our religious views. Binding what God […]
Category: Acts |
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Tags: Article
PHall | August 1, 2010
The judge reads the verdict – “Guilty.” The defendant has moved from defending himself to being judged un-defendable. Heads hang, tears are cried, anger soars, despair sets in. On the Day of Pentecost, the judge through Peter declares – “Guilty.” After condemning the blameworthy, the condemned do not react in despair or anger. Unlike the […]
Category: Acts, Bible |
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Tags: Article
PHall | August 1, 2010
Tradition says it is the Acts of the Apostles. Yet, most are ignored. It is mainly Peter then Paul, with Paul not one of the original twelve. Why the silence? Why doesn’t inspiration inform of us what Matthew and Matthias did? And then there are non-apostles such as Stephen and Philip who are given much […]
Category: Acts |
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Tags: Commentary, Introduction
PHall | July 25, 2010
Detained by the authorities from the Bureau of Religious Affairs. Interrogated by the same. Warned that if what occurred in 2008 happens again, the warning will turn into something not so kind. Six officials from the Communist regime of China sitting in front, behind and to the side, all are speaking Chinese. None of us […]
Category: Matthew, Luke, Acts, II Corinthians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, Hebrews |
Comments Off on 1 Thessalonians 2:18 – China Trip Report (2009)
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PHall | July 23, 2010
Fascination soars and interest deepens when people hear about “the lost books” of the Bible. Add to that secret codes for unlocking hidden messages and all of a sudden, the Bible is once again interesting to the dull of hearing. “For over two thousand years the church has tried to hide from humanity the spiritually […]
Category: Acts |
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Tags: Article
PHall | June 30, 2010
If we were to write a history of our home church, or of Christianity in our area, what would it look like? That would be determined by why the history is being written. Purpose decides which facts are included and excluded. Seldom if ever is history written to simply record facts – even the simple […]
Category: Acts |
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Tags: Article
PHall | March 22, 2010
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans” (Woody Allen). “Man makes plans . . . and God laughs” (Michael Chabon). “We plan, God laughs” (old Yiddish proverb). Even the Bible asserts such similar belief – Psalm 33:10 HCSB – He thwarts the plans of the peoples. That such is said […]
Category: Acts, Romans, I Thessalonians, Psalms |
Comments Off on Romans 1:13 – Making Plans
Tags: Article