Category: Translations

  • Did a Shooting Happen… or not?

    Yesterday the news was all over the internet in what I consider “main sources.” It was the first thing you saw when the news page would come up. When newspapers were actually printed, it would be called “above the fold.” It was front and center. I thought there was yet another shooting at yet another college campus. Seven dead. And…

  • Liking the Common English Bible Bit by Bit

    Teaching a New Testament class on some of the “general epistles” I keep several translations with me. I will use my Nook and the Olive Tree Bible Reader to compare, take notes, etc. While the Common English Bible certainly has a lower reading level than more “literal” translations, what continues to impress me about the CEB is it is truly a…

  • Where Greatness Dwells

    Mark 12 gives a contrast in true greatness. There is the greatness we aspire to (even if we may not admit it at times). For the Jews in that day there was an admiration for the religious leaders. They had places of position. They had esteem. They looked smart. But all that glitters is not gold. 38 As he was teaching, he…

  • Who is this King?

     7 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 8 Who is this glorious king? The LORD—strong and powerful! The LORD—powerful in battle! 9 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 10 Who is this glorious king? The LORD of heavenly forces— he is the…

  • Expectation

    This Sunday is Palm Sunday. The journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was one of high expectation. Everyone had their view of what Jesus’ coming meant. That entry had implications for everyone… yet not in a way any of them expected. 8 Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. 9 Those in front of…

  • The Place of Authoritative Prayer

    20 Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up.”  22 Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! 23 I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the…

  • Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

     15 They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. 16 He didn’t allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He taught them, “Hasn’t it been written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But…

  • He’s Coming… and you may not like that thought

    This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday. We celebrate the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem. It is remembering his triumphal entry, then entering a week of reflection as we head toward the Cross. The expectation when Jesus entered Jerusalem was probably enormous. There was a lot of talk and a lot of hope. But when Jesus comes, it may not be…

  • When He Comes

    31 The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 It won’t be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant with me even though I was their husband, declares…

  • Laughter

    22 A joyful heart helps healing,     but a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Prov. 17:22, CEB) When a week of heavy events, life situations, ministry, etc., really begins to beat down… it is wonderful to have things come along to lift me out of hard places. Last night was one of those nights. I had tickets to see a barbershop…