Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | October 1, 2021
God Will Do It! – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (Praying God’s Way to Healthy Growing Communities) PRAYER: Oh Almighty, it is too easy to live in pain without reflection. Whether our suffering is due to genetics, accidental circumstances, or evil people, give us foresight to remember You are faithful. You will keep us whole in the […]
PHall | September 24, 2021
TEXT: “For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” (CSB’17 1 Thessalonians 4:2) DEVOTIONAL – Comedy can make the obvious even more obvious, even when the topic is obviously not funny. The funny thing about humor is knowing that even when the scene is outlandish to the extreme, what makes it […]
PHall | September 20, 2021
Blessed Are the Peacefakers? There are at least 3 ways of being non-aggressive when wrong is done to others to others or ourselves: Become Fearful, Uncaring, or Displace our Rage. Being passive is not the same as being peaceful when wrong is done.What are ways to be a peacemaker? Confrontation (properly done), Self-sacrifice (without bitterness or […]
PHall | September 14, 2021
TEXT – “Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God — as you are doing — do this even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” (CSB’17 […]
PHall | September 8, 2021
Is My Heart Blameless Enough For Jesus to Return? – Growing Healthy Communities TEXT: “May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.” (CSB’17 1 Thessalonians 3:13) DEVOTIONAL – I’m a pessimist. I’m also motivated by guilt. Divine threats […]
PHall | September 8, 2021
How to Write a Sermon There is no one right way to write a sermon. But taking Mark as a sermon, here is an inspired idea: I. Memorable Opening: 1. Provocative or Informative Title or Opening Line – 1:1 2. Scripture – 1:2-3 3. Explanation or Interpretation – 1:4-11 II. In the middle, the beginning […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Jesus told James and John, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”” (CSB’17 Mark 10:38) Jesus’s baptism here is his suffering, so baptism is not literal but metaphorical. He is talking about his suffering overwhelming him. […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Don’t Follow the Crowd? The gospel of Mark is one of contrast, not of imagery like light and dark in John, but of reactions of groups versus individuals. The latter fair better. One of the most glaring contrasts might be the individual Herod versus the group called disciples. Surely, wicked, adulterous, murderous, Herod fairs worse […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Failure to Build (a little longer than usual) “You can destroy as much by failing to build as by actively wrecking” (Rod Dreher, Live Not By Lies). While this quote is describing the rise of totalitarianism within nations, I found it intriguingly applicable to churches. As for wrecking within, historically churches die from: 1. Being […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Jesus Confuses Me Jesus confuses me. Only those with enough hubris to always know exactly what others should do based upon “what would Jesus do?” are never confused. Take for example, Luke 12:13 (CSB) Someone from the crowd said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” I have a brother. That sounds […]