This Sunday I was at Sunday School, and we were discussing Ecclesiastes 7. This chapter is problematic for some Christians since right in the middle of it, a passage says. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time? (v. 16-17) I appreciated our …
Continue reading How Does One Find Balance? Ecclesiastes Has an Answer
I was raised up near the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca Nation of Indians--- a prominent Iroquois tribe. Recently, I was reading "Kinzua: From Cornplanter to the Corps" by William N. Hoover. In it, he shares a quote from another book that speaks questions that Seneca students had for white missionary teachers serving among them. …
Continue reading Seneca Tribe Missions— Good Questions from the 19th Century
This is a sermon I preached at a church in the Philippines on its anniversary. This was a few years ago. I am calling it "An Inspiring Failure" because a key illustration in is is on the early Protestant missionary---- Justinian von Welz. It is wonderful to finally be here to visit your church. We …
Quote from the movie, "Men in Black"-- where "K" explains what it means to become a member of the the 'MIB" Edwards: What's the catch? K: The catch? The catch is you will sever every human contact. Nobody will ever know you exist anywhere. Ever. I'll give you to sunrise to think it over. Edwards …
Continue reading Serving as a Christian Missionary— Is It Worth It?
Some see the Bible as a disconnected set of stories, poems, history, letters, and more. I do believe, however, that it should be seen as a big story with lots of chapters. But what type of story is it. An obvious possibility is that it is a legal drama. And there are strong reasons to …
Continue reading Is the Bible a Legal Drama or a Love Story?