Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | October 10, 2018
Nearly all religious backgrounds from which early Christians came – Jewish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more – had instrumental practices. For centuries churches claiming allegiance to Christ did not use instruments in musical praise. All this explains the term acapella literally meaning in the manner of the church. Even the famed Baptist Charles Spurgeon, “the […]
PHall | October 10, 2018
How important is kindness? If you are a Whovian (Dr. Who fan), you recognize how the 12th Doctor, before regenerating, said, (towards the beginning) Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember – hate is always foolish…and love, is always wise. Always try, to be nice and never fail to be […]
PHall | October 10, 2018
Punctuation changes the meaning. Consider these two well-known examples: [ ] Let’s eat, Grandma. [ ] Let’s eat Grandma. Commas save lives, so goes the joke. That second one is dangerous for grandma! To understand further Interpretation by Punctuation, lets begin by laying the foundation: [ ] For those who don’t know, when the OT […]
PHall | October 10, 2018
Although unknown among NT churches, the group now called The Roman Catholic Church introduced “it” into its ritual centuries later. By 1000 AD “it” became more common. For centuries after that millennium, some churches in protestation to Catholicism also excluded “it” in church. Today several religious groups still don’t use “it” in their assemblies: Orthodox […]
PHall | October 10, 2018
Trigger words, warnings concerning such, and an ever evolving PC culture are defining this era. That’s sad – and scary (political correctness was a term coined by Vladimir Lenin); and this is nothing new. Check out the speech (if I say sermon would that be a trigger word?) Paul makes in his defense in Acts […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
I don’t know if one chapter can be the most important, but Acts 2 is one of the most important. What does it show? 1. How to rebuff objections – use scripture (vv.15-16). 2. God fulfills prophecy (vv.17-21; 25-28,31). 3. God is Sovereign (vv.23,36). 4. The focus of our preaching – All that is said […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
John 11:33 [HCSB] “When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved.” Do you see the phrase, “angry in His spirit”? Many translations read, “deeply moved in spirit” instead. The Greek is made up of two words: “to engage in” and […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
Galatians – An Exodus Story: Words often tell more when seen through a historical lens, even an unstated OT motif. I wonder if this is true in a book telling a familiar story reminiscent of Israel’s exodus, only for them to quickly turn away. That book is Galatians. Paul writes that God raised Jesus from […]
PHall | September 29, 2018
These are 3 main focus points of early Christians that shaped their survival: 1. Discipleship – Being like our Rabbi in knowledge and lifestyle is more some desire. “To whom else can we go?” (John 6:68-69) Discipleship is following His way through the Holy Spirit. 2. Commitment – “By this people will know you are […]
PHall | September 15, 2018
“You’re the preacher from down the street, right?” “Yes I am.” “Well I just wanted to explain to you why earlier I ran away from you.” That is a conversation I had in my neighborhood Monday while walking the dogs. Quite the strange way to begin a conversation with someone you don’t know, don’t you […]