see but not perceive…

Today we have the parable of the sower from Mark 4:1-20 and Jesus explanation of this to the disciples. At one point Jesus says that he teaches in parables so that those outside the circle “may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” This is an interesting reason, wouldn’tContinue reading “see but not perceive…”

cedars of Lebanon…

These are magnificent trees… Here is a little history from Wikipedia.org: Once Lebanon was shaded by thick cedar forests, so it is no coincidence that the tree is the symbol of the country. After centuries of persistent deforestation, the extent of these forest has been markedly reduced. The trees survive in mountainous areas, where they are the dominant tree species.Continue reading “cedars of Lebanon…”

2 trees or not 2 trees – that is the question

We get so hung up on the fruit and the tree and the serpent being the devil and a bunch of stuff that we learned in Sunday School that simply isn’t in the Bible. I wonder sometimes why the apple got the short straw on being the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Was thisContinue reading “2 trees or not 2 trees – that is the question”

keep it!

A house divided against itself can not stand! Have you ever been there? Luke 11:14-28 tells us the story we heard from Mark last Sunday of the reason Jesus can cast out demons according to the Pharisees and the scribes is because He does it by the chief of demons… Yet a house divided against itself can notContinue reading “keep it!”

God’s Merry Band of Fools!

Psalm 74 tells us how the people of God are surrounded by those who scoff at God a foolishly mock God and His ways. When oh when Lord will you come and smite these foolish people and bring us out of the calamity we are under… But is that really what is happening? The psalmist here seems toContinue reading “God’s Merry Band of Fools!”

What do you know?

What are you completely sure of in life? There is not much I am completely sure of, well maybe there is, but maybe there isn’t… I’m sure I am the father of my 3 daughters, and I am sure I will love them regardless of what they do. I’m sure that I will never beContinue reading “What do you know?”

Out of the depths…

Psalm 130 is the appointed psalm for today. And it begins, “Out of the depths I cry…” Have you ever felt like you were so far away from God that you didn’t what to do? That you were in the depths of Sheol, or worse? “What can I do, everything is crumbling around me and noContinue reading “Out of the depths…”

even the depths of God

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not withContinue reading “even the depths of God”

God’s Holiness…

This is a depiction of a Cherubim… Does this look like an angel to you? The scene in Revelation 4 depicts 4 living creatures on each side of the throne. They have eyes all over them, on the front and their back. They have 6 wings, and eyes all over them… Does this look likeContinue reading “God’s Holiness…”

Trinity…

This is an icon of the Holy Trinity that I have fallen in love with. It is so beautifully depicted and shows us the reason behind the Trinity. On this Holy Trinity Sunday we talk about one of the doctrines of the church that we do not understand or comprehend. We try to explain the Trinity throughContinue reading “Trinity…”