BUILDING ON BEDROCK

The conclusion of God's own Book of philosophy, where it finally comes into agreement with the rest of the Bible.  

Old and New Testament weave Truth together!

In Reflection 96, we return to the Gospel of Matthew.  We pick it up in chapter 3, covering the first two verses.  We consider Baptism, preaching, repentance, the "kingdom of heaven", John's prophetic place, and the cyclic nature of Scriptural prophecies.  It's free, and found at www.reflections.libsyn.com , along with all the others.  This may be the last one published for a while, since we're pr...

The newest Reflection, number 95, is now available.  It's with all the others, at www.reflections.libsyn.com .  Remember, there's no cost & no obligation.  We continue with Psalm 10, considering what Scripture means when it says God "sees".  How relevant are His promises to "the fatherless" today?  Then we turn to the topic of Triumph and God's Kingship.  We outline God's perception of the three d...

Please visit www.reflections.libsyn.com to hear Reflection 94 (and all the others)!  It's less than 15 minutes long, and continues considering Psalm 10.  We only get as far as verses 12 & 13, But that includes requests for God to "arise", God's "hands" and what the impressively long word "anthropomorphisms" means.  I explain why I DON'T pray for God to "make me humble", and consider occasions wher...

I've just published Reflection 93 at www.reflections.libsyn.com !  We begin Reflecting on Psalm 10, which is reminiscent of Job's complaints.  We connect this to the Book of Esther, where Haman gets his in the end.  I share my definition of the ACLU, and consider where our own culture is heading.  Then we see the 3-fold description of "the wicked", and remember that God will have the ultimate vict...

Reflection 92 is available at www.reflections.libsyn.com !  Job continues, determined to speak out.  We learn how God understands extreme emotions, though they should be temporary.  We note the reference to the "Watcher", and end with God's forgiveness.  As always, I hope it's a blessing!

Reflection 91 is available at www.reflections.libsyn.com !  We start Job chapter 7, where he continues responding to Eliphaz.  Several inspired insights; particularly about the brevity of life. I know it will bless, because it's God's Word (and NOT because it's my voice!  LOL)

The 90th Reflection is now available at www.reflections.libsyn.com (along with the other 89, of course)!  Job continues responding to Eliphaz.  The places named were real, and give credence to the Book's historicity.  I refer to an uncomfortable personal memory regarding Job's words.  He rebukes  his accuser, and rejects the accusations.  This is something we should re-learn today.  Here's one quo...

In Reflection 89, now available at www.reflections.libsyn.com , Job responds to Eliphaz's first challenge.  He admits his words in chapter 3 were rash...and they were, but I still think they were understandable.  We briefly consider "terrors" the way Job referred to them, and commend him for never considering suicide.  I especially like this words "I have not concealed the words of the Holy One". ...

In Reflection 88, located at www.reflections.libsyn.com , we have Eliphaz finishing his first speech.  There are more examples (and there's more coming!) of the damage when right words come from a wrong heart, or when general truth is misapplied to a specific situation.  Imagine promising "long life" to someone who's already said he wishes he'd never been born!  But I've heard Christians do that t...

Tomorrow I'll be doing domestic chores: mowing (hopefully for the last time this year), raking, etc.  So I'm publishing Reflection 87, at  www.reflections.libsyn.com a day early.  We continue in Job 5, as Eliphaz continues exhorting Job.  He continues to be a great example of what NOT to do.  While he says things no believer would disagree with, it contains self-praise disguised as reverence.  He'...

Reflection 86 is now published at www.reflections.libsyn.com .  Eliphaz continues his "comfort" for Job.  Why is the Book of Job in the Bible?  Who are the "holy ones" Eliphaz refers to?  Are his tactics practiced today?  What's the full meaning of the Hebrew word for "trouble" in verses 6 & 7?  The danger of applying general truths to specific trials.  I love the "apologetics" ministry (overcomin...

Reflection 85 is now available at www.reflections.libsyn.com .  But I have to warn everyone: DON'T listen to it if you think "super-spiritual experiences" are a valid source of authority, OR if you think "kitchen prophecies" ("Don't tell anyone, but this is what God wants you to do.") are from God.  This passage from God's Word, showing the first use of such tactics, might traumatize you.  Blessin...

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that "ALL Scripture is God-breathed...", including the parts we don't care to read.  Reflection 84 brings us back to the Book of Job, probably the first Book of the Bible to be written.  It's found at www.reflections.libsyn.com .   We pick up in chapter4, the first speech of Eliphaz the Temanite.  His techniques have been copied in many modern corporate seminars and trainin...

In the 83rd Reflection, now available at www.reflections.libsyn.com , we conclude Psalm 9.  We begin with God's judgment, noting that most of the Bible is about something most people -- even Christians -- don't want to think about, and faithfulness to God's Word versus pleasing people.  We give a brief outline of Scripture versus tradition regarding Sheol and the afterlife, why the churches are la...

Reflection 82 is now available at www.reflections.libsyn.com .  We continue Reflecting on Psalm 9.  David exhorts others to SING praises to the LORD.  We consider God as Avenger, and what it means to "tell of His praise".  Finally, we consider "rejoicing in His salvation." I know we believers all have our favorite Psalms, but God included every one of them in His Book.  As always, I pray this Refl...

Reflection 81 is now available!  When I was in Youth With A Mission (YWAM) I heard Bill Blatz teach "The Old Testament is a manual of spiritual warfare!"  This is exemplified in Psalm 9, which I continue to Reflect on here.  Why wasn't David afraid (and why should we be)?  David had enemies, and so do we.  God doesn't GIVE us a refuge; He IS our refuge!  It's found here: www.reflections.libsyn.com...

This time we start considering the 9th Psalm.  I need to start with a clarification.  When I say "Neither Isaac nor Joseph did actually die", meant Isaac didn't die on Mount Moriah in Gen. 22, and Joseph didn't die when his father thought he had in Genesis 37.  Both of them did, eventually, die.  We mention the connection between praise and testimony, describe "evang-elastically speaking", and men...

Starting in verse 13, we consider God's instructions for the Ark.  Please excuse the dated references to Bill Cosby.  I confess what Noah's Ark and the Shroud of Turin have in common for me.  The ark's dimensions are specific, and have been reproduced by Ken Ham.  We note God's justice, and when it's right for Him to apologize.  This passage contains the first mention of the word "covenant", a vas...

We look at humanity's condition in the pre-Flood world, and compare it to ours today...briefly.  Then I explain my statement: "Sometimes it's important to notice what the Bible does NOT say."  Many people say that God is cruel in light of events like the Flood.  We consider God's grace IN judgment, and in what sense God Noah was "perfect".  Finally, we consider "the world" as it relates to "the ea...

 The beginning of Genesis 6 is controversial, and, as I say in the podcast, we may have to "agree to disagree agreeably".  We briefly mention "the myth of over-population" before devoting the rest of the time to the question "Who were 'the sons of God'?"  And we close with a conjecture about the possible meaning it might have for us in these days.  All this, without once referring to the rightly-r...

Here we finish up Genesis chapter 4 and go all the way through chapter 5!  This is the first time a single Reflection has covered more than one whole chapter of the Bible! And this is one of the most amazing passages for me (though most of us skip over it), because the Gospel is hidden in the names of humanity's first 10 generations!  May God use it as powerfully in your heart and life as He has i...

In this Reflection, located at www.reflections.libsyn.com , we begin to look at Lamech, the first recorded polygamist.  Does that make polygamy Biblical?  We also look at the godless culture built up by Cain's (and Lamech's) descendants, including tent making, farming, music (and all the conflict around it), and handicrafts.  None of these things are good or bad in and of themselves, but knowing h...

We consider the Bible's first genealogy, and how I learned not to skip over anything in God's Word.  Why is this list tragic?  What's the significance of Cain's "leaving the presence of God" (which happens 5 times in Scripture)?  "Dwelling in the land of Nod" can teach us something also.  Finally, the significance of the names gives me yet another reason to continue trusting the bible.  As always,...