Recent content by Deacon

So.... I probably didn't answer the questions as throughly as the person asking them at the group study desired. I simply said that Jesus was sent to us with a purpose and a plan. The questions fall outside of the plan. Then there was a brief discussion about when Jesus gained awareness of the...

The study group I attend has been reading the Gospel of John. We just finished John chapter 12 and these questions came up. If Jesus wasn’t killed by those who opposed him, would he have lived forever on the earth among his people? If Jesus would have died a natural death would it have...

Comet Lemmon is not quite visible to the eye tonight.

Even Origen of Alexandria (c. 185-254) compared various texts and attempted to discern the original text - that's loosely a form of "textual criticism." But generally when the term, "textual criticism" is used it refers to modern, scientific textual criticism, which was not available to the...

Has anyone looked up in the night sky recently? There are two comets just about to be visible to the eye. It's been cloudy for the past two days but early this morning it was only partly cloudy so I was out with my equipment. The clouds fully rolled in before was able to grab a picture. I got...

A long time ago a relative of my wife worked in Africa with the PeaceCorp. There, she met a young man and they were wed in a civil ceremony in a language they did not understand and given a written document in an obscure African dialect which served as proof of marriage. No one in the family or...

Fact: One hundred year from now close to 100% of white folk living today will be dead! Rob

Jerome, you made a good case that common law marriage is a type of marriage, but is it a reputable form of marriage? Most people consider common law marriage to be less than reputable and ambiguous, capable of being understood in many different ways. Rob

My understanding is that Common Law Marriage is generally contracted after a period of living together without being formally married. Hence the concern about being above reproach. However, in some instances a common law marriage may be the only option of marriage available. In the case of one...

A common law marriage is legal in some States. What is the spiritual state of the couple? That's a question that should be asked of anyone wanting to join the church. Certainly not a candidate for being an elder... who 'must be above reproach.' Rob

In The Low, honest prayers for dark seasons by Justin McRoberts (author) & Scott Erickson (author and illustrator) Depression and anxiety are alarmingly prevalent in today's American society affecting people of all ages. The book, 'In the Low,' is a collection of meditations that provide...

As I've aged my thoughts on this passage has become more limber. IMO, the phrase "one-woman man" has some flexibility of meaning. I believe the general intention of the passage is that an elder should be devoted to one wife at a time. The additional context of the passage in 1 Timothy 3:1-7...

I ran across an OT passage last week where the argument for the various interpretations depended on what syllable was stressed. Here's a sentence in English that changes meaning depending upon which syllable is stressed. I don't think he should get the job. (but you may think so) I don't think...

Scripture isn't always as plain as we'd like it to be. There have been countless believers before us that have pondered the pages of God's word (most of them smarter and wiser than me). Reading what they have written opens doors to understanding. I avail myself to reading as much as I can in...

Concerning 1 Timothy 5: 17-15 Elders are to be properly honored and paid their worth (1 Tim 5:17-18). Elders are not to be encumbered by false charges (1 Tim 5:19). Elders who persistently sin should be publicly rebuked (1 Tim 5:20-21). Timothy should select elders with care so as not to...