Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | November 5, 2018
This makes for bad grammar, but beautiful yet mysterious theology. Notice how the language deals straightforwardly with the reality that God is singular yet plural without analogy, metaphor, or trying to explain: Genesis 1:26-27: “Then God/elohim (plural) said, “Let us (plural) make man (singular) in our (plural) image (singular), according to our (plural) likeness (singular). […]
PHall | November 1, 2018
There is statement Paul makes about himself most everyone is familiar with concerning his sinfulness – “I am the worst of them.” Twice Paul says the same thing (1 Timothy 1:15-16). Before getting to what is less familiar, lets examine why Paul considers himself the worse. Why was Paul the worse in his own eyes? […]
PHall | November 1, 2018
In the beginning there were two relationships abandoned: 1) Eve was Adam’s helper, yet she led him into sin, leading to their eventual deaths. 2) Cain asks what he thinks is a rhetorical question but has the wrong answer. It too led to the death of brother. Eve was Adam’s helper, but did not. Cain […]
PHall | October 27, 2018
His version doesn’t say enough, but what it does say is meaningful and a good start. I’m referring to a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson – “How Do You Measure Success?”. To make it more meaningful, I added scriptures which show who has lived the most successful life: How do you measure success? To laugh […]
PHall | October 26, 2018
In reading Jeremiah 18 I got reminded of a valuable lesson; especially for a religious or even political discussion. First the text: Jeremiah 18:13-15: “Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Ask among the nations, who has heard things like these? Virgin Israel has done a most horrible thing. Does the snow of Lebanon ever […]
PHall | October 26, 2018
Marriage Lessons from an Unlikely Source Thanks to one of our teachers (John Meadows) for doing the unexpected, by using a passage about an impending divorce, to teach about having a successful marriage (Matthew 1:19-24). First the background: Joseph is betrothed or engaged to Mary. She is miraculously pregnant; but all he knows is what […]
PHall | October 24, 2018
Interesting observation from D. A. Carson, “Jesus didn’t choose a supper that was culturally neutral”. That forced me to ask, “What are the implications?” Either that means we can choose culturally significant to emblems (or insignificant since it doesn’t matter). One church offered hamburgers and milkshakes because the only “meaning” was getting people in. Paul […]
PHall | October 24, 2018
1) First, “What is a map?” For the younger generation, a map is a paper GPS that you have to “read” (maps don’t verbally tell you when to turn). The same is true when studying a Bible (and I don’t mean an app reading to you). Don’t just listen to others tell you what to […]
PHall | October 24, 2018
If you leave one congregation for another because you just aren’t getting involved: 1) You probably won’t get involved at the new place because “you always follow you”. 2) If you do get involved at the new place, you could have gotten involved at the old place. 3) It is true it can be the […]
PHall | October 24, 2018
Are topical (where you take verses from all over the Bible) or expository (stay with one text) better? Here’s a story, probably a preacher’s-story, but still a good one: 1) “Judas hung himself”; 2) “Go and do likewise”; 3) “do what thou doest quickly”. The lead in is two friends talking about Bible study and […]