Monthly Archives: February 2010

What do you think about the book The Alchemist? Paulo Coelho’s 1988 work (English version 1993) was well written and certainly an interesting read. It moves quickly, and its North… Read More

Here are a podcast and notes on Tattoos & Piercings (37 minutes). To download the podcast, right click on “download” and select “save link as” or “save target as” and you can… Read More

What do the scriptures say about the death penalty? In California, a major gang member was in jail for 25 years and sentenced to death. Some people were in an… Read More

Isaiah 61:1 tells of the binding up of the brokenhearted and freedom for the captives. "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me." Who is me? I always thought… Read More

I’m having a hard time trying to understand how this is Godly. I know we do not live in the Old Testament days, so I can sort of see how… Read More

From my understanding of the Scriptures, in order for someone to be saved, one must believe, repent and be baptized. Then the blood of Jesus forgives one’s sins and one… Read More

I was talking with a friend about original sin again and he said that he believed that we have "imputed" guilt, not "inherited guilt." What in the world is the… Read More

Could you please define/explain what things… actions… thoughts… mindsets, etc… you’re thinking of when you refer to "clergy/laity"? — Joel Suggs (Cincinnati) I refer to clergy as professional church workers,… Read More

I was reading a devotional on a weblog, and it quoted John 1:1-5: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. Read More

I have heard that "seeking first the kingdom" means putting my church first and foremost in my life. Is this a right interpretation? — V.J. In the Sermon on the… Read More

Here are a podcast and notes on Avatar (12 minutes). To download the podcast, right click on “download” and select “save link as” or “save target as” and you can… Read More

Which leaders exactly are being referred to in Hebrews 13:7 and 17? I am unclear. Most scholars agree that the leaders, the outcome of whose way of life we are… Read More

You wrote that those who received John’s baptism probably didn’t get baptized again. So how then did they get the indwelling or seal of the Holy Spirit? Did John’s baptism… Read More

Am I misleading people by practicing and teaching yoga? I run a wellness studio, and yoga is a practice I teach for physical fitness. I teach students how to calm… Read More

Aren’t all the mystical experiences of spiritual persons essentially the same, regardless of the culture or religious context in which they occur? It is fashionable to posit a mystical connection… Read More

To hear the podcast (30 minutes), click on the play button below: To download the podcast, right click on “download” and select “save link as” or “save target as” and you… Read More

In reference to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, I’ve always believed from the Scriptures that the only people who had these gifts were the apostles and whoever the… Read More