PHall | June 2, 2012
A troubled heart is a dangerous heart. It leads to questioning answers already given, and doubting what is already known. There is nothing wrong with asking questions and experiencing doubt if they lead to a greater search for truth. But recognizing the danger keeps the search from becoming vain if it happens at all. In […]
Category: John |
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Tags: Article
PHall | May 30, 2012
Yahweh tells wicked Ahaz to ask for a sign from from the depths of Sheol to the heights of heaven (7:11). Later, referring to the same Person who would be that sign, Immanuel, we find a different fulfillment: Ephesians 4:9-10 (HCSB) 9) But what does “He ascended” mean except that He descended to the lower parts […]
Category: Ephesians, Isaiah |
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PHall | May 27, 2012
Commonly, religious people claim America needs to get back to God. They distance themselves from the morally irresponsible who distance themselves from God’s moralities. They worry as the irreligious and anti-religious wreak havoc upon our country and ethical sensibilities. Yet, ironically societal irresponsibility begins with false religion and its false doctrines unknowingly and innocently promoting […]
Category: Jude |
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Tags: Article, Calvinism, Original Sin, Total Depravity
PHall | May 16, 2012
If modern editors critiqued the gospels, what would they say? “Matthew, your beginning is too boring, who cares about birth records.” “Mark, you use the word ‘immediately’ way too many times.” “Luke, don’t talk about yourself at the beginning, just get to the story.” “John, I like the idea of light and darkness, but instead of […]
Category: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John |
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PHall | May 14, 2012
Argumentative People: #1 – Cannot hear others over the volume of their own opinion; #2 – Are angry and sad but don’t know it; #3 – Have an inferiority complex masked as a “superiority complex”; #4 – Are more interested in catching you in what you say, than in catching what you say; #5 – […]
Category: I Timothy |
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PHall | May 12, 2012
John preached a “baptism of repentance” (Lk.3:3). This repentance is not something simply and solely theological or personal. It is spiritual and practical; it reaches out to all because God reached down to us. Repentance is not just in the heart or mind. Repentance is not just looking to our sinful past. Repentance is a […]
Category: Luke, Bible |
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Tags: Baptism
PHall | May 9, 2012
Sometimes all you can do is pray “Please Lord, help” as you drift in and out of sleep all night long.
Category: I Thessalonians |
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PHall | April 26, 2012
Circulating the internet is the following: “’Let’s eat, Grandma.’ ‘Let’s eat Grandma.’ Punctuation saves lives.” Ah, the power of a comma! While the most abused of all punctuation, apparently it has the power to save lives. Here’s a Biblical example of such grammatical chicanery. Change the punctuation and we have a command to steal: Ephesians […]
Category: John |
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Tags: Deity of Christ
PHall | April 26, 2012
Don’t you wish a little sin irritated us as much as does a little splinter? Now imagine that splinter in your eye. Matthew 7:3 uses the word speck which is a small piece of wood or straw to apply what is found within an eye. I imagine such was common for a carpenter. I pray […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Sermon on the Mount
PHall | April 26, 2012
I grew up in an atmosphere that focused more on what churches cannot do, than on what a church can do, should be doing, must be busy doing, and actually did. James 1:27 was not preached on except on how not to apply it. Speaking analogously, gardens are never planted by only pulling weeds. Negatively […]
Category: Ephesians |
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Tags: Article