Heresy and the Canon
Around 140 AD, a wealthy shipowner named Marcion arrived in Rome. He was originally from Sinope, a city in Asia Minor on the coast of the Black Sea. Although he…
The Children of Abraham
We've recently examined the life of Abraham, the Patriarch of Israel. The promises God made to Abraham are foundational for Christianity. The Almighty pledged to bless Abraham and through his…
Musical Emergency
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest has been held annually since 1982. According to the contest's website, this upside-down award goes to the author who pens the most "atrocious opening sentence to the…
The Star in the East
Nativity scenes are one of the time-honored traditions of the Christmas season. Such displays vary widely in style but have a number of fixed elements. The central figure, of course, is the…
First Things First
Many Christians are familiar with Alpha, a program designed to introduce people to Christianity. The title is quite fitting since alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The…
The Riddles of the Torah
The Bible can be a puzzling book. The Torah - the first five books of the Old Testament - is the most archaic portion of the scriptures. According to tradition,…
A Portrait of Salvation
Many of us grew up singing about Zacchaeus - the "wee little man"- in Sunday School. His story is found in Luke chapter 19. Jesus was passing through the city…
Gentle Jesus, Meek & Mild
There is a widespread sentiment - both in our society & in some quarters of the church -that Christians ought to be "nice" people. And no doubt there is a…
The Wrong Shall Fail, The Right Prevail
Last week we began celebrating the music of the Christmas season. Our world has been immeasurably enriched by sacred works inspired by the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Yet we…
Kings, Presidents and Salvation
During election season, some Christians have become fond of proclaiming that "salvation will not arrive on Air Force One." Air Force One is of course the government airliner which transports…