Category Archives: Bible

biblical reflection, often related to Revised Common Lectionary RCL

God’s insane abundance

Posted on February 6, 2010 by jlh

God is teaching me about economics Jesus-style. One of the most important passages in the Bible on the subject of giving is 2 Corinthians 8-9. Paul is collecting money from the Gentile churches of Macedonia and Asia Minor for the … Continue reading →

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Skeletons in the Closet

Posted on December 4, 2009 by jlh

Women in Jesus’ Genealogy (Matt. 1.1-17) Matthew begins with 17 verses of “begats.” Mostly we skip it. There are theological insights hidden there, however, like Easter Eggs in a  DVD. Three groups of 14. In gematria, the Jewish system of … Continue reading →

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Immanuel people

Posted on October 21, 2009 by jlh

Immanuel people are those who remind us that “God is with us.” 1600 years ago a child went missing, a sign child went missing, and  is still missing today for most folks. Child 1: Shear… “A remnant will return” When … Continue reading →

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Thou shalt love, not hate

Posted on October 14, 2009 by jlh

I had occasion to think about Sodom and Gomorrah tonight. The prophet Isaiah addresses the leaders  and people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, as “you rulers of Sodom, you people of Gomorrah.” They must have been shocked, because then, as now, … Continue reading →

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Background for 8th century Isaiah

Posted on October 11, 2009 by jlh

Essentials of Hebrew History All dates are BC (or BCE Before the Common Era) Background 2000-1500?— Abraham, Isaac, Jacob 1300?—          Exodus from Egypt 1200-1020?— The Judges (Deborah, Samson, Gideon, etc.) Israel becomes a monarchy. Three kings rule over a united … Continue reading →

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Whom do you fear?

Posted on September 23, 2009 by jlh

        Left: Isaiah’s lips anointed by the angel (Isaiah 6.7)     Isaiah, the greatest of the writing Hebrew prophets, lived in the eighth century BCE. His children become signs, acts of God incarnate. Here are some … Continue reading →

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Leggo my ego!

Posted on September 10, 2009 by jlh

Leloir, Jacob wrestling with the Angel, 1865 (Wikipedia) Ego and egolessness! A hot potato. The more you try to set aside the ego (the executive self), the more the unconscious self (the subversive self) takes over. Paul the neurotic puts … Continue reading →

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Thunder in the night

Posted on August 24, 2009 by jlh

The A/C picked tonight to konk out. So we opened windows and the doors leading out on to the deck. I looked up the number of the guys who’ve come over the years to fix the A/C, so that it’ll … Continue reading →

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No and Yes

Posted on July 17, 2009 by jlh

You know it’s important to write down insights when they come—which I’m doing now. Ask for medical prognostication, and from any truthful physician you’ll get “Yes” and “No,” a mix of the probable and possible. Medicine is a mixture of … Continue reading →

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Face to face with God

Posted on July 15, 2009 by jlh

Left: Moses and tablets (Rembrandt)     We’re studying Exodus 32-34 in our Neighborhood Bible Study, part of a summer Great Chapters of the Bible series. Why read these dusty old stories? The scribes who preserved them had lost everything. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, religion, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments