Fear and anxiety pervade our society. Every which way we turn there is something to be afraid of. Terrorist are running rampant in our schools, our workplace, our malls and even our churches. We worry about all manner of harm happening to our children, how we will care for our elderly parents as their health declines or what if, Lord forbid, we get cancer! Doctors prescribe antidepressants like they are magical and opioids as if they are a panacea for everything. I'm nearly depressing myself just writing the introduction to this article. I pray I'm not stressing and losing my readers too much by this paragraph.

Genesis 1:1 KJV
[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Mankind has a penchant, propensity or knack, call it what you will for asking the wrong question. Wrong headed thinking is the cause of much confusion in regards to understanding what the Bible is communicating on many subjects and in particular the creation story. In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul instructs Timothy to study, so that he may "rightly divide the word of truth". We cannot study without asking questions and it stands to reason one cannot learn the "right" or correct answer apart from the truth.

Know, that you know, that you know! The "old time" preachers used to say that phrase frequently. Ralph Cox a long-time pastor at Milan Baptist Church in Maynardville was the first preacher I recall saying "know, that you know, that you know". The Apostle Peter said it this way, " Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (see 2 Peter 1:10). Both phrases mean make sure you are saved!

Last time, we concluded by pointing out that there was no temple during King David's reign over Israel and that God would not allow David to build God a house or temple to dwell in. God would not allow David to build a house because God knew men would worship a temple built by human hands and not worship God Himself.

TEMPLE WORSHIP continued
As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go H’mmm?

Matthew 12:6
“But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.”

PUNS IN THE BIBLE
As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go H’mmm?

Romans 2:29
“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Mark 13:26
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

In Matthew 13:26, what did Jesus mean by the “coming in the clouds” part of His statement? Three of the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) all record Jesus’ discussion with His disciples in what is commonly referred to by theologians as “The Olivet Discourse”. We are not going to keep you in suspense, “coming in the clouds” is a figure of speech, or metaphor for Judgement. More specifically the word, “clouds” in this context is a Biblical Metaphor for Judgement.

As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go Hmmm?

Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

As Part of a new series called:
Things That Make You Go Hmmm?

Luke 2:8
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

Why does the Gospel writer Matthew mention the wise men coming to Jesus, and why does the Gospel writer Luke mention shepherds coming to Jesus?

Last time we addressed Matthew’s wise men part of this two-part question. This time we will concentrate on answering part two: Why does the Gospel writer Luke mention shepherds coming to Jesus?

As part of a new series called: Things That Make You Go H’mmm!

Matthew 1:18
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

A good friend of mine recently asked me a question about “The Nativity” or birth of Jesus Christ. A question which I had never fully considered. Actually, it is a two-parter. Here is the question: