Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | August 28, 2018
Seven is a meaningful number in Judaism (gematria). It means “creation” – think of God resting on the 7th day which Jews still do today. We are given the challenge to maintain or preserve unity (4:3). Let’s notice the 7 personal traits needed to keep the unity based on 7 unifying truths or realities (Ephesians […]
PHall | August 28, 2018
I get easily distracted. Especially while observing the Lord’s supper. Thankfully the admonishment to not take in an unworthy manner (2 Cor.11:27) is deeper in meaning than ADD. What distracts me? The bread getting caught in the crannies of my teeth. The fruit of the vine tasting bitter; or even like its starting to turn. […]
PHall | August 28, 2018
Hills and mountains do not have only one side. While that is obvious, good-hearted believers tend to forget the obvious when warning about “slippery slopes.” In the arena of spiritual matters, a slippery slope argument is the fear an action will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable and unscriptural end or ends. […]
PHall | August 22, 2018
Jesus’ ancestry was defiled by sinners guilty of incest, prostitution, adultery (or possibly rape), and even the “sin” of being a different race (Matthew 1). To make matters worse, his birth was witnessed by ceremonially unclean shepherds (Luke 2). Jesus’ life was spent being surrounded by outcasts such as tax collectors, prostitutes (Luke 15), and […]
PHall | August 21, 2018
Ephesians 5:28 (NASB) “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;” I’ve often joked about how men show they love their own body by what they eat…I am actually enjoying cheesecake right now. I love my body! But I think Paul is […]
PHall | August 21, 2018
He smiled as he asked his question thinking I was trapped. “If I had a million dollars that I got illegally but couldn’t return it because I didn’t steal money but provided a service, would you recommend the church keeping the money if I gave it?” Actually that wasn’t his question but I knew his […]
PHall | August 21, 2018
James poetically writes and warns, “life is a vapor” (4:14). Every older person laments this truth they have too quickly lived. Children learn this because, while when young it takes forever for Christmas to come, it starts to come faster every year. Evidence of time passing quickly is seen in everyday life. In 8 short […]
PHall | August 16, 2018
There is nothing wrong with prospering financially or being healthy in this life (3 John 1:2). But if your spiritual leaders teach that is the goal of God’s gospel, then they are propagating “the health and wealth gospel” (also called the prosperity gospel), which is another gospel (Galatians 1). Notice the Holy Spirit’s emphasis on […]
PHall | August 16, 2018
I am a Gentile by nature (birth). I am gentle by nature (behavior). To my surprise Gentile and gentle are etymologicallly related via “gens” meaning birth (also where we get “genes”). “Gentle” became associated with high class birth because of the well-born expectancy to be well-behaved. Where is this thought going? Christians, born again from […]
PHall | August 16, 2018
Jesus gave gifts to the church (Ephesians 4:7-11). No one person is a gift on their own by virtue of their personality (although some might have formed personality cults). Biblically though, there are roles people fill that are “gifts” via grace. One role is an apostle. Sadly Paul had to continually defend his role even […]