NAMES MATTER
Exodus 20:7 states: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” Names in Scripture are not just labels but revelations of identity, character, calling, and relationship—both for God and for human beings. The Second Commandment underscores […]
WRAPPED IN CLOTH
Luke 2:12 (ESV) — And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. With Christmas 7 days away, I ask you, where does the prophecy say the Messiah will be found? Micha told us where … Micah 5:2 (ESV) — But […]
A WORLD IN NEED OF PRAYER
I wonder if the world is truly that much worse off today, or does the access to information make it seem that way. If one could choose to go back in time to any period or place, I think I would choose to stay where I am now. By the same token, there are always […]
RHET-O-RIC: EXAMINE YOUR HEART
I promise you that this post has to do with Hanukkah. Please indulge me as I take the long way to get there … The purpose of a rhetorical question or statement is to make a point by provoking thought, without expecting a direct answer, instead guiding the audience to a conclusion through deeper reflection. This Morning I […]
HANUKKAH PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Whether you light a Hanukkah menorah or not, kèep in mind this Sunday evening, the 25th, of Kislev, the beginning of Hanukkah, that the Maccabees lit the 7 branch temple menorah. The one unsealed bottle of the very special oil which should have lasted one night, lasted long enough for the worshipers to celebrate […]
HAGAH — MEDITATE ON THE LORD
Psalm 33:11 — The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. In the Hebrew Bible, the common verb for “meditate” is “hagah”, which can mean to murmur, utter, muse, or even growl, suggesting an audible, thoughtful recitation rather than silent detachment. The root of the Hebrew word for “Muse” […]
THE MENORAH PSALM
Psalm 67 Is the Menorah Psalm Psalm 67 has long been associated with the menorah because its literary and numerical structure mirrors the Temple lampstand in several traditional readings. Why it is called the Menorah Psalm Many Jewish sources refer to Psalm 67 as “the Menorah Psalm” or “Menorah Hymn,” since it is often written […]
PATTERNS OF PROPHECY
Reflections on the Papal Role, the Book of Maccabees, and Biblical High Priesthood During my recent visit to the Church of the Shroud in Turin, Italy, where the sacred burial linens of Jesus are entrusted solely to the Pope, I was astonished to see a particular display. Beside the protective case for these linens stood […]
CRY OUT
Exodus 3:7-9 — Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out […]
A QUESTION TURNED INTO AN ACADEMIC PAPER
On the recent trip to Italy that Mary and I took, we visited the city of Turino (Turin) and the Church of the Shroud, where Jesus’s burial linen clothes are kept. To my surprise, right next door is this building below that I took this picture of. It is one places where Spanish Inquisition trials took place. Turino […]