It seems that the difference between the definitions of “prostitute” and “mercenary” is simply what kind of work is being sold. Mercenary and merchant are words that have the same root. Our most common use of the word mercenary is related to the work of a soldier. The idea from its beginning was simply trading work for pay. Malachi reported […]
Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3,4 Holman Christian Standard Bible®©) Part of the contention that existed around Jesus before He was crucified included the Jewish religious leaders’ fear of losing […]
Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock […]
When a story passes through enough peoples’ lips, it is no longer the story it was when it was first told. Words that have been abused long enough become something new. Part of Archie Bunker’s fame came from his misuse of words and stories. He was poorly educated, but strongly opinionated. His vocabulary increased by hearing other people use words, […]
Yahweh is “the God Who sees me,” according to Ishmael’s mom: “Yahweh-El-Ro’i“. Abram was told by Yahweh that he would become the father of many nations: “Abraham“. Much time passed, without the promise being fulfilled. Abraham’s wife suggested a less supernatural way of doing it than the one Abraham interpreted as the promise of the Lord: have a son by […]
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention, and hear what I say: Does a farmer sowing keep plowing forever? Does he never stop breaking up and harrowing his land? No — when he finishes levelling it, he scatters his dill-seed, sows his cumin, puts wheat in rows, barley where it belongs, and plants buckwheat around the edges; because his God […]
Socialists, both the political types and the scientific types, have problems deciding how to balance their toleration of intolerant people. The problems come from every direction; if you are intolerant, it usually means that at some point you become intolerable. If I don’t tolerate you being intolerant, who wins that argument? If I, in hopes of being right and nice, […]
John the Baptist stayed in jail and died there. Peter was led out of jail by an angel. Paul and Silas were freed from jail by an earthquake. John was finished with his work. Peter was covered with prayer by intercessors, and not exactly the best ones – they didn’t believe God had answered their prayer by freeing him. Paul […]
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;With the pure You will show Yourself pure;And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people,But will bring down haughty looks.For You will light my lamp;The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.For by You I can run […]
The Spirit of God works in us to want to do things right and then to be able to do them right (Philippians 2:12,13). He wants to transform us by renewing our minds (Romans 12:1,2). That’s what repentance means (Luke 3:8). When He speaks to our minds or hearts with a change of attitude, it doesn’t always work out into […]