Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | February 21, 2013
My son was mesmerized by a card with a picture that changed shapes when the card moved. Technically they are called “lenticular 3D holograms.” His brother playfully mocked, to which I replied, “Hey, I am fascinated by simple things too, after all, I am fascinated by you!” In the language of those “in the know,” […]
PHall | February 20, 2013
Warning! Read Slowly – Praying to God is inquiring of God, and while we would never pray to a man to inquire of God, we could inquire of a man when we inquire of and pray to God. I had fun typing that! Tiresomely, from morning to evening (18.13,14), Israelites would surround Moses “to inquire […]
PHall | February 18, 2013
Every day, Israel needs God, for provisions and protection. The Amalekites “came and fought against Israel” (Ex 17.8). This is their first war. On the time-line of their journey, this is probably within the first few months (16.1). Israel is still a slave-like nation in mentality and ability (13.17). Once again God saves in a […]
PHall | February 16, 2013
Nowadays they don’t stone the prophets, they just fire the preachers. That “Perryism” is brought to you courtesy of a preacher who has been fired…and thankful he didn’t get stoned. David Tant, “comforted” me saying, “No preacher is worth his salt, who hasn’t been fired.” While surely hyperbole, there is truth. In Exodus 17.4, Moses […]
PHall | February 15, 2013
A prayer that is not a prayer? Patience, and we all might learn an alarming but needed lesson, especially for those days when our “cup of complaints runneth over.” On the 15th day of the 2nd month after being powerfully freed from bondage, Israel impatiently complains to Moses (Ex 16.1-3). Running low or completely out […]
PHall | February 2, 2013
When is a legitimate complaint wrong? That question will be experienced time and again by Israel in the wilderness. Looking inwardly, what did we do that last time someone complained to us? I’ve learned the uncomfortable lesson that a complaint to me about anything is often a complaint about me. After crossing through the Red […]
PHall | February 1, 2013
To experience the awe of prayer, lift up words of praise, and nothing but praise. Speak out loud of God’s holiness, power, love, faithfulness, salvation, exaltation, glory, wondrous deeds, majesty, reign, uniqueness, redemption, and eternity. Yes, even His wrath is praiseworthy. Pray without asking for anything. If the prayer is public, the “amen’s” should roar; […]
PHall | January 31, 2013
Do you ever look back at your prayers in shame? An advantage to having a “good forgetter” is periodically I get surprised when reading the Bible. Forgetting what I know, the story becomes “new” again. What did I forget this time? That Israel forgot. The 10 Plagues are over, devastating Egypt economically and emotionally. Israel […]
PHall | January 29, 2013
Not a born leader, watching Moses “grow into” a servant leader is a humbling, possibly stressful and shaming lesson. If an 80 year old man can change…. What’s the secret? Serving, believing, affiliating, interceding, and getting personally involved. As placated by grace, before his first trip, “Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders […]
PHall | January 28, 2013
There are excuses, and there are reasons. Can a reason turn into an excuse? Can the reasonable become replaceable with faith, by Spirit given gifts? Going down to Egypt, every thought and word of Moses expresses hesitancy, inadequacy, and stubbornness (4.1-11); accompanied by grace-placated submission (Ex 4.14-17). After the mission successfully “fails” (4.21), Moses blames […]