Parables
Why did Jesus teach in parables? Why are some of them still unexplained? When is the last time you asked Him to explain one? Every time His disciples asked Him to explain one, He did…
Values
If I give you five pounds of platinum, you can verify the weight of it. You cannot verify the value of it, though. You could verify that someone is willing to trade a certain amount of some other material for it, but someone else would offer a different amount of the same material for it, because its value is different […]
Good Religion
Wikipedia, the modern displacer of almost all encyclopedias, includes this statement in its definition of “religion:” “…there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.” No wonder I have felt so much like it was not a problem to have a different definition for the word “religion” from almost everyone. It is as vague and multi-identitied as “world […]
Bible Studies
If my Bible study is not making me know Jesus better, and giving me help toward being more like Him, instead of just giving me more history or more information, even about Him, it might be a poor investment of time.
Not Mad at You
Luke recorded a message from some messengers from Heaven (2:14) that sounded like, “Glory to God in the highest!” The “highest” is a place, not a volume level… And like, “And on earth, peace and good will to all of humanity!” The announcement of the presence of Yeshua (“Salvation of Yah”) in the earth included the fact that He had […]
Possessions
Today, just a simple quote from one of my heroes, E. Stanley Jones: “It doesn’t matter how much you’ve got; it matters how much God’s got of you.”
Neat Stacks
Professional theologians would have us believe that paradigm is the proper way to perceive spirituality and the rest of life as the spirit is manifest in the earthly place: this is right, and that is wrong. Either this or that, then is the choice. I am convinced that Jesus prefers a paradox: this is right, but so is that, and […]
Identifying You
The information that I can properly use to refer to my identity is located outside my self. The two points of reference I can use are my relationships and my work. If you ask me who I am, and my answer is “Douglas Thomas,” I have not answered your question. I have only given you the label by which I […]
Women in Ministry
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”“I am He,” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.” (John 4:25-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®) Jesus announced to a woman from a Samaritan town that He is Messiah. She was expecting Messiah to appear […]
Apostle is a Kingdom Word
We should really be something between surprised and perplexed by the fact that one of the times Jesus spent the night praying, He called his disciples around Him and called 12 of them “apostles.” “Disciples” makes sense. Some of His followers were in deep relationships with Him. Some were intent on being obedient to His instructions and on applying His […]