Both stories in Genesis are about “the ADAM,” but the ancient author uses
differences between what that word means to teach the very important lessons –
and there are some “very big differences.” Read the entire story
at -
Monday, November 25, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Building a God Talk Vocabulary
“God” is the “big elephant in the room” in many conversations and relationships.
Everyone knows the elephant is there but no one talks about it – even though it is often a key factor in disagreements
over some very important things. In order to have those conversations people
need a “God Talk Vocabulary!”
Two Polar Opposite Creation Stories
I
had always been taught at my church that the two stories at the beginning of
Genesis were two versions of one creation account. We were wrong about that
too. By the time we finish reading the Garden in Eden Story you will be amazed
at the number of differences between it and the first creation story.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
A surprise beginning of the Garden of Eden Story
One
of the most famous, and for Christians, theologically important stories in the
Bible is the account of the “Garden of
Eden.” However, because chapter and verse breaks were inserted over a
thousand years after the story was written, it is very difficult for modern
readers to see the words in their original context. Continue reading at --
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Do not forget that God is divine and man is human.
One
of the foundational principles of the first account in Genesis is this -- God is divine and man is human. This
contrast underlies all biblical thinking. The “likeness of God” is “the
likeness of Him who is unlike man.” The words “image and likeness of God” conceal more than they reveal.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
The Mystery of the Third Blessing
The
first account in Genesis begins and ends with mysteries. The first mystery is
that before the beginning, the unidentified god (the Creator), darkness and
deep waters existed. The account ends with the second mystery -- Creator’s
blessing of the Seventh Day. in the eyes of ancient readers the Seventh Day
would have be seen as the most important of the seven days. Continue reading at
-
Monday, November 18, 2019
The Creator’s Vision for Human Lives and Societies
The
blessing of the Creator reveals His vision for humanity – and He empowered humans to make that vision
a reality. It is a vision (game plan) for “The Perfecting of Humanity.” Continue reading at -
Friday, November 15, 2019
All Humans are Spiritual Equals
One
group pictures themselves as people created from parts of a dead god. The other
group views themselves as individuals with the presence of a living god. Which
way do you view yourself? Read the complete email at --
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Discovering Ancient Wisdom Embedded in the words of Genesis
As we study
the words of the opening accounts of Genesis we will help you see the its words
through the eyes of the scribes too – and
you will be amazed by the ancient wisdom embedded in stories you may have heard
all of your life. Continue reading at --
https://mailchi.mp/b99891c5fd90/discovering-ancient-wisdom-embedded-in-the-words-of-genesis
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
When My Bible became a Time Machine
For
most of my life, when I read or heard the word “Earth” – anywhere -- the picture that popped into my mind was the familiar
photograph of the Earth that has been taken from space. How could it be anything else! Well
it did!!! Continue reading at --
Friday, November 8, 2019
Abraham was Not Jewish, Christian or Muslim
Abraham
is a key figure in three monotheistic religions whose members make up over one-half
of the world’s population today. That makes him a central figure in Jewish,
Christian and Muslim beliefscapes (belief systems). Continue reading at --
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Hating with a Divine Standard
The
Bible opens with some radical new ideas for the ancient world:
●
The god that created the Heaven and the
Earth “used a standard” to measure its work.
●
“Human life” was the highest value on
that divine standard.
●
That god also “created all humans in its
image.”
But
one of the most radical ideas of all was this – continue reading at –
Monday, November 4, 2019
Prophets and Prophecies
The
English word “prophet” is a transliteration
of the Greek word προφήτης
which
means “an interpreter of oracles or of
other hidden things.” The Greek meaning is the one many people attach to
the word “prophet” in their Bibles. But
it is very different from the Hebrew meaning -- which is the one that the Jewish Jesus and his first generation of
followers had. Learn more by clicking on --
Friday, November 1, 2019
How Christian Beliefs about Salvation Have Changed (BHC Quick Notes).
Read
a quick rundown of major Christian
beliefs about what is required for one to “be saved” in chronological order at
--
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