Roger

You probably can quote it.   It’s been referred to as “the Gospel in a nutshell.”   I memorized John 3:16 during a boyhood Vacation Bible School:   “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”   This verse alone, if acted upon, would be enough to lead one to salvation.   Its components bring life.   Allow me to dissect it for you. “For God…” This speaks of Divine Origin.   Our salvation was set into motion immediately after the fall of man, when Adam and Eve fell by was of transgression – when they disobeyed God.   The Bible tells us that the fall brought sin into the world and with sin came death.   But God orchestrated a plan to win lost mankind back to Himself!   Genesis 3:15 relays God’s prophetic intent. “ And I will put enmity between you and the woman.   And between your seed and her seed.   He shall bruise you on the head.   And you shal...

Do you remember your elementary school teachers?   I do!   At Jefferson Elementary School I had in chronological order: Mrs. Baber, Miss Knapp, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Kasefang, Mrs. DelPriore, Mrs. Haines, Miss Hamilton, and Miss Johnson.   All of them were fine teachers, but I remember Miss Carolyn Johnson with great fondness. She was in her late 30’s when I walked into her classroom that September day in 1967.   I took note immediately that this woman was different than most. As I recall, most of my other teachers smiled little during the first six weeks of school, but Miss Johnson met each of us with a smile and a hug.   Most notably, she possessed a distinct walk, which I assumed was a “teacher thing.”   After all, Mrs. Haines had also walked with a limp.   One day, a fellow classmate imitated her walk for the entire class to see, when she suddenly appeared in the doorway.   He subsequently spent quite a long time leaning against the chalkboard with...

Bible writers often used directional words when describing places and events .   “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers…” (Luke 10:30).   “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord” (Psalm 24:3)?   Lori and I were privileged to travel to the Holy Land in December, 1999.   We saw the lofty heights of Jerusalem and the terraced slopes of Mount Zion.   In all probability, David’s palace was situated on one of these slopes, thus enabling him to view the terraces below.   Had he not been looking down from his rooftop, perhaps his tryst with Bathsheba would never have occurred.   One translation says he “looked down and saw…” Our tour included a bus ride from Jerusalem down to Jericho.   We held our collective breath as the bus wound its way down the narrow road.   Several times it appeared that we were going to fall off the edge, as there were no guardrails.   Israel is an intense, complex, and a...