Tag Archives: Christianity

John 3:16: The Bible’s Most Popular Verse

Posted on May 30, 2025 by salooper57

The words “believes in him” deserve careful attention. A strictly literal translation would go, “believes into him.” This is a Johannine phrase, used only in this Gospel and in the First Epistle, but used more than twenty times. What does it mean to “believe into” Jesus, and why did John latch onto this preposition? Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Peace with God, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is There an Old Testament Confession of Faith?

Posted on May 24, 2025 by salooper57

I once took a class from a teacher who described the God of the New Testament as loving and forgiving, but the God of the Old Testament as angry and vindictive. He had not read the Old Testament carefully enough. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Change Is Coming

Posted on May 22, 2025 by salooper57

I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I am going to die on June 23, 2031 – at least according to the website, http://www.deathclock.com … I’ve got 6 years left on earth. They have me dying seven days before our 52nd wedding anniversary. I first read that about 20 years ago, and 2031 seemed a long way off. Seems a lot closer now. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Work of the Lord: Am I Making Any Difference?

Posted on May 15, 2025 by salooper57

I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I am going to die on June 23, 2031 – at least according to the website, http://www.deathclock.com. .. I first read that about 20 years ago, and 2031 seemed a long way off. Seems a lot closer now. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

There Is Love: The Amazing Promise of the Resurrection

Posted on May 7, 2025 by salooper57

“Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardener.”

But what a gardener! When he plants those who belong to Jesus, they rise with a splendor that is indescribable, unspeakable, and full of glory. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

First Stone in an Avalanche

Posted on April 30, 2025 by salooper57

They now understood that the resurrection – the coming back to life of everyone who had ever died – had commenced. That brought them to the remarkable conclusion that the “last days” had begun and “the renewal of all things” (those were Jesus’s words) was at hand. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Changing Evil for Good, Darkness for Light, Bitterness for Sweet

Posted on April 26, 2025 by salooper57

They acted decisively to stamp out the menace. And when they were done, they had stamped him into the ground, into a hole in the ground; and they buried him there. As far as they were concerned, the fire of extremism had been snuffed out. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Holy Week, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Ace the Test: A Case Study

Posted on April 19, 2025 by salooper57

What follows is something like a chess game. The king refuses to speak to the diplomatic team from Assyria but sends representatives out to them. The Assyrian king’s underlings are not important enough to speak directly to Israel’s king. If they have something to say, let them say it to his subordinates. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Potential, Choice, and the Cost of Being Real

Posted on April 12, 2025 by salooper57

I have paid (and continue to pay) the piper of potentiality. What I have received for that payment has been me—not a potential me, but the real-deal, existential me. I hope I’ve been worth the price. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Strange Disappearance of St. Peter

Posted on April 5, 2025 by salooper57

But something in him did die that night: his self-confidence, self-importance, and misplaced sense of honor. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment