“I will choose You, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and You will stand together as a single One.” ~ Jesus (Thomas 23) This is one of my favorite sayings of Jesus – not because he definitely said it (indeed, it is quite possible he didn’t) – but rather because of […]
“Be Faith-full to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.” ~ unknown (Revelation 2:10) Most Christians focus on the word “faithful” in this verse (which is the way the term is written in most English biblical translations), and this is why most Christians are so often and so […]
“Question with boldness even the existence of God, because if there is One, [He] must more approve the homage of reasonable doubt than that of blind-folded fear.” ~ Thomas Jefferson This quote from Jefferson need not be read as a rejection of God or a call to atheism (though Jefferson himself was a Deist, […]
“Nothing is unclean in itself; but is only unclean for anyone who thinks it so.” ~ Paul (Romans 14:14) On the one hand, Paul is strengthening a common temptation in this verse – telling us all (quite incorrectly) that it is fully acceptable to receive with open arms whatever is offered us, regardless from […]
“Know how to interpret the present time … Judge for yourselves what is Right.” ~ Jesus (Luke 12:56-57) First and foremost, when Jesus seems to use the verb “judge” here, he certainly does not mean “condemn” or “label” or “criticize” or even “determine.” He actually means “distinguish” or “discern” – a definition much more […]
“I lay down my Life in order to take It up again. No one takes It from me, as I lay It down of my own accord. I have the power to lay It down, and I have the power to take It up again.” ~ Jesus (John 10:17-18) This is yet another extremely […]
“If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there within & among them.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 18:19-20) Here again we have a passage from the Bible that is […]
Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer are a few of the leaders in a popular religious movement many call “The Prosperity Gospel” — the belief that if you sacrifice for God (preferably in the form of irresponsibly large monetary tithes given to these same “prophets of profit”) that God will eventually bless you […]
“What has come into Being in Him is Life, and that Light is the Light of all people.” ~ unknown (John 1:4) This is an extremely important biblical verse, and not for the heavily constricted meaning typically attached to it by conservative Christian preachers and their devout “believers” – not because it somehow intimates […]
“Whoever drinks from my Mouth will Become as I Am.” ~ Jesus (Gospel of Thomas 108)* First & foremost, please realize that it is only possible to “drink from another’s mouth” while doing far more than merely listening to his or her words … Indeed, to “drink from the mouth” of a stranger is […]
“And you will be called Prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways; to rekindle an awareness in the forgiveness of their sins.” ~ Jesus (Luke 1:76-77) Note first & foremost that this prophecy was not given by Jesus himself, nor was it even given about […]
;
