PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

Biblical truth standing on its spiritual head to get our eternal attention.

Jeremiah 1:1 – The Past is Not the Present

| February 22, 2016

Jeremiah supported Josiah’s reforms despite his family’s objections (Jer.11:26; 12:6). This might seem obvious and unimportant considering Jeremiah was a prophet. And yet…. Let’s look at Jeremiah’s religious and political heritage. His father was Hilkiah. It is frequently suggested his father’s family had been deprived of the right to practice their profession by Josiah’s sweeping […]

Exodus 20:7; Matthew 6:9; Romans 2:24 – Holy Name

| January 7, 2016

The Ten Commandments warn, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain” (Ex.20:7). Jesus reasoned in the model prayer, “Holy is your name” (Mt.6:9). Paul writes, “The name of God is blasphemed…because of you” (Rom.2:24). This goes far beyond but includes how we speak: 1) Do we promise something in God’s name and renege? 2) […]

Genesis 1-3 – A Real Man is a Paradox

| January 2, 2016

A Real Man Is a Paradigm that is Not Perfect (Genesis 1:26,27,31) A Real Man Is a Purposed Creation That Needs Guidance (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7) A Real Man Is a Provider But Not Just A Paycheck (Genesis 2:15; 3:17-19) A Real Man Is a Proclaimer of Truth Still Learning From Others (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-3) A […]

Genesis 4 – Chiasm

| December 28, 2015

Abbreviated Chiasm A – ADAM IS INTIMATE WITH HIS WIFE (1a) B – CAIN ENTERS (1b) C – CAIN AND THE GROUND (2-3) D – ABEL AND BLOOD (4) E – GOD REJECTS CAIN (5a) F– CAIN CONTROLLED BY EMOTIONS (5b-6) G – MORAL OF THE STORY (7a) G’ – MORAL OF THE STORY (7b) […]

Jonah and Us

| December 28, 2015

Jonah tried to flee from God by boat to Tarshish. We mock his primitive thinking. Our method of hiding is much superior. We hide from God in our prayers by pretending our motives are different than they really are. I wonder, however, if our method is more insulting to God. Jonah tried to flee from […]

Psalm 6 – Praying through the Bible #170 – A Prayer of Pain Before Praise

| December 23, 2015

Before a psalm is taken apart and analyzed, each needs to be experienced, even felt, as our emotions overflow and overtake our minds. We need to allow the Psalms to take apart our lives as it takes part in our lives. To experience Psalm 6 we have to experience the pain and the praise. To […]

Psalm 5 – Praying through the Bible #169 – A Morning Prayer of Changing Emotions

| December 22, 2015

My morning prayer: “Dear Lord, thank you for two layers of covers (it is winter), a bathroom close to my bed (I am getting old), and a hand to hold while I sleep” (I am still very much in love). You might be thinking this prayer’s contents are first mundane, then TMI, and finally sweet. […]

Psalm 4 – Praying through the Bible #168 – A Prayer for Freedom from Self

| December 10, 2015

We all care what others think of us. Some admit it. Some are controlled by it. Others react against it. We can pretend we don’t care; but other’s words and opinions often hurt. The cloaked emotional crisis is what others think can lead beyond thoughts and words; dangerous actions can result, sometimes by “me.” Psalm […]

Psalm 3 – Praying through the Bible #167 – A Prayer of Help, Honor, and Hope

| December 8, 2015

The best French fries are at Ollie’s Trolley. I got to eat these growing up when my father would take me to his workplace. One Saturday he did not take me, so I gathered my friends, and we stormed his office. My father’s friends looked out the window. Seeing us on the march they warned […]

Job 38-42 – Praying through the Bible #166 – A Prayer Finally and Frightfully Answered

| December 1, 2015

Scratched into a wall in Germany during World War II by someone hiding from the Nazi’s are these faithful words: I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. Nothing may be more frightening than […]