Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
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 […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
Tired of Being Angry The last feeling I need right now is feeling numb. Numbness makes it too easy. So much pain for so long though, tends to desensitize a person, either as a defense mechanism, or from sheer emotional overloading. Instead of feeling numb, I would rather be angry. One way Facebook trains us […]
PHall | September 2, 2021
How to Evangelize The simplest, clearest, verse on how to evangelize is…. I’ve changed my mind over the years. No longer do I think “personal work” classes are necessary to teach how to evangelize. I’ll teach them, but the reality is every Christian should already know how. That’s because every Christian just needs to tell […]
PHall | August 19, 2021
The Audacity of Preaching Think about the audacity of John the Baptist’s preaching: 1. Mark 1:1 – a “gospel” was a term used non religiously to refer to an announcement of military victory. 2. Mark 1:2-3 – God, hundreds of years before, foresaw this victory in the vision of Isaiah. 3. Mark 1:4 – John […]
PHall | August 19, 2021
I see both intentional and unintentional humor in the Bible where others don’t. I’ll let you decide: PROBLEM – Jesus went a little bit away. His disciples find him. They tell.him everyone one is looking for him. SOLUTION – Jesus says, “Let’s all.go even further away!” (The last answer they expected) TEXT – “Very early […]
PHall | July 26, 2021
Martin Luther sought to emphasize a daily renewal in baptism by practicing and encouraging his followers to each morning place their hand on their heads and confirming, “I am baptized”. This method is because he had water sprinkled on him as a baby as did his fellow protesters, hence Protestants. This became comforting because he […]
PHall | July 9, 2021
Praying 1 Thessalonians for a Healthy, Growing, Community – How Can I Thank God for You? (3:9) PRAYER: Oh Savior of mine and others. Thank you for people that bring me joy, not because of what they do for me; but because of what you did for them through me – you saved them. In […]