The NET Bible gives a conventional translation of God’s warning to Cain in Genesis 4.7 (BEFORE he murders his brother): "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.” But the Hebrew is elliptic and ambiguous. The NET apparatus notes … Continue reading Meditating on Genesis 4.7

“You should never believe a thing simply because you want it to be true.” (T Lannister) From Politico, from the great Tim Alberta: I had never seen a sanctuary so full on a Tuesday night. The people packed into FloodGate Church in Brighton, Mich., weren’t here for Bill Bolin, the right-wing zealot pastor who’d grown … Continue reading “The Bogus Historians Who Teach Evangelicals They Live in a Theocracy”

... for good or for ill, or a bit of both. Not all disciples are disciples of Jesus, of course.

Have you ever heard a sermon that made you angry? I was visiting a church a few years ago. The pastor was in his early thirties, very gifted, handsome and with a winning personality. The worship was excellent, the people friendly, the coffee strong and hot; everything you need for a good worship service, right? … Continue reading Turning Sixty (Someday) (Soon)

This is the video of the sermon I preached at Kristova Crkva Kušlanova on 5 November. https://youtu.be/2_kSm6QQvy4?si=CvO_8yiOhQy9S3Di

When Paul is urging his churches to commit to unity, he uses a word, ἀνέχομαι, which is usually translated "bear with", as in "bear with one another". This translation is rather bland and polite. ἀνέχομαι is a fairly strong word. It means "endure something unpleasant," "endure a trial." This is the word that is used … Continue reading “Bear with one another” (Ephesians 4.2)

From a letter to George Washington: When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits—despotic in his ordinary demeanour—known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty—when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse … Continue reading Alexander Hamilton re Demagogues

I started listening to the Texas Rangers in 1975 or 76. Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven were the pitchers I remember. Jim Sundberg and Tom Grieve, Toby Harrah (and then Buddy Bell.) They were awful. Reliably finished in 3rd or 4th place in the AL West. But they were on the radio every night, so … Continue reading World Series Champion Texas Rangers

Over the past 2-3 weeks, I’ve been shocked by the hatred aimed at Israel. I’ve always known that antisemitism existed, but this was new, widespread, illogical in context (no sympathy in light of the Hamas attacks?), and from circles not historically seen as antisemitic. I think I know why the young uberprogressives hate Israel. It’s … Continue reading Why They Hate Israel