PHall | August 12, 2022
“Do not enter the canal of the ear.” That’s the “directions” on the box of “Q-Tips” (actually the generic version). That’s also one of the most ignored “instructions” ever! Why? Because sticking it into the ear canal works! What does this have to do with spiritual things? Many “misuse” the Bible because “misusing” […]
Category: Ecclesiastes |
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PHall | August 9, 2022
Kafka wrote, “A cage went in search of a bird”. What did he mean? That’s debatable, but despite what he meant if he meant anything, I see a meaning behind this paradoxical aphorism: Humans crave the absurd. A cage is a prison. Sennacherib called Hezekiah “a caged bird” after his siege that ended in failure […]
Category: Genesis |
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PHall | August 3, 2022
“Inspir-history” WARNING! I am about to make up a word! One reason I believe in inspiration – that the very words of the Bible are inspired – is because of “inspir-history”. Just as the words of the Bible are chosen by God, that same Bible shows God chosing to “inspire history” by breathing out His […]
Category: Genesis |
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Tags: Inspiration
PHall | August 2, 2022
The mysterious “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9) has many secrets. One is, what kind of fruit? Tradition says “apple” but this is because the Latin for bad/evil and apple are homonyms and the Vulgate (a Latin translation) was at one time the most popular translation (Psst, the only fruit mentioned […]
Category: Genesis |
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PHall | August 1, 2022
It is possible to overstate the place of water within God’s workings, and it is possible to understate it as well. However, an honest approach to scripture shows how intricate water is to God’s involvement in His dealings with His created physical reality. It begins in the beginning. But before we go there, let’s […]
Category: Genesis |
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Tags: Baptism, Creation, New Creation
PHall | July 24, 2022
Learn to Fight The book of Judges teaches many expected, uncomfortable lessons such as we are often the source of our problems. However, an unexpected lesson I recently learned helps us deal with the problem of pain and suffering when it’s not our fault. Specifically, why does God allow us to go through difficult times? […]
Category: Bible, Judges |
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PHall | June 26, 2022
“While We Stand and Sing” At the end of the sermon, the preacher often asks the congregation to rise when singing the invitation song. When this tradition began, I don’t know. Possibly standing is just physical, giving everyone an opportunity to stretch after the…way to short sermon! Maybe it a psychological boost for those who […]
Category: Hebrews, Bible, Psalms |
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PHall | June 14, 2022
Proverbs 23:31-32 has a warning against drinking – “Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.” The wise man goes on and gives another warning in v.33 – “Your eyes will see […]
Category: Genesis, Proverbs |
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PHall | June 7, 2022
A friend pointed out that the words “listen” and “silent” have the same letters. That spelling coincidence is not useless trivia. Sometimes people are silent but don’t listen. Other times people are not silent and you can tell did not listen. “The one who gives an answer before he listens — this is foolishness and […]
Category: Proverbs |
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PHall | June 3, 2022
Words paint pictures. A picture might be worth a thousand words, unless it is God painting with words. Notice this verse from the Song of Moses: “The water heaped up at the blast from your nostrils; the currents stood firm like a dam. The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.” (CSB’17 […]
Category: Exodus |
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