Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 7, 2016
Amen. Commonly it is found at the end of statements (although the common understanding it means “the end” is not true). Jesus often sprinkled His language with Amen as seen in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus even did what was unusual and not common by beginning sentences with Amen (often translated “truly” or “verily”). […]
PHall | 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) […]
PHall | January 3, 2016
When I was a preacher in my 20’s, my best friend in the congregation was a man in his 70’s. Our unusual friendship was in the Lord. He was a retired electrician. One day he made an interesting comment: “I know how electricity works; I just don’t know why.” That same sentiment was in a […]
PHall | 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 […]
PHall | 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) […]
PHall | 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 […]
PHall | December 23, 2015
If I had to predetermine the chiastic center for 3 John, I would have chosen v.11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” One of the dangers of rearranging the chiasm is to […]
PHall | 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 […]
PHall | 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. […]
PHall | December 17, 2015
I had doubts 2 John is a chiasmus. After struggling on my own and searching others’ attempts, the doubt increased. Literally, hours were spent on what should have been – at least I thought should have been – a simple task. That task is, to determine if 2 John is chiastically arranged; and if so, […]