Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | March 7, 2013
“Take time to be holy” is a song that annoys me. The church sings, “Take time to be holy?” and I annoyingly ask myself, “Aren’t we supposed to be holy all the time? Think people, the name ‘saint’ itself means ‘holy one!’” I always feel superior after a holy rant, how about you? After today’s […]
PHall | March 5, 2013
Reading Leviticus, I see no prayers; but much blood, many sacrifices, legalistic commands, details, entrails, and yes even much grace. Every sacrifice is about grace. So how can a book of no prayers help us pray through the Bible? Sacrifices are prayers and prayers are sacrifices. David pleads, “May my prayer be set before You […]
PHall | March 1, 2013
No prayers are listed in the final 6 chapters of Exodus (35-40) in building the Tabernacle. So technically I am not writing about praying through the Bible…and yet I am. In chapters 35-36 we get a glimpse of what can be versus what is, by witnessing an astonishing alteration in the people of whom both […]
PHall | February 28, 2013
Everyone deserves a 2nd chance, a 22nd chance, and even a 222nd chance; until God decides no more. God not only is the giver of grace, He is the only one qualified to decide when the last chance is. No human sinner is authorized to arbitrate the end of grace because we don’t know how […]
PHall | February 26, 2013
My imagination is not vivid enough to paint the picture of Exodus 33. That might be why this scene has always been intriguing. I wish I could hide with Moses. But if I focus on seeing what was seen, I will miss seeing what is really there. It begins with an amazing proclamation of fellowship. […]
PHall | February 25, 2013
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they are like the Son of God.” Not an exact quote, but fitting since brokering peace can cost us personally. It did for Jesus; will it for Moses? Geographically, we are at Mt. Sinai, the place of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Calf. Israel is worshiping Yahweh (Ex 32.5-6a); […]
PHall | February 23, 2013
Pick up one piece in a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, and what do you see? Nothing. Stare harder, and you imagine things that will later prove ridiculous or at least obviously wrong. There is only one way to know for sure, and two ways of doing this. First, (cheat?) look at the picture on the […]
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 […]