Modern Place Names and the Bible

Posted on 3 October, 2014 by Jon Gleason

From BiblePlaces.com, a really handy little list:

A family member asked me for a brief list of major regions in the biblical world that are mentioned in the news today by other names. Since most Bible dictionaries do not have entries for the modern names, this list is intended to bridge that gap. With the ancient names in hand, you can consult a Bible dictionary for more details.

Go check it out.

This is important, especially when teaching children the Bible.  We want them to learn that it is describing real places, real people, real events that really happened.  If they see places called Ammon and Moab in the Bible, and then go look on a map and don’t see it, they can wonder if it is all real.

Sometimes, too, we understand the text better if we know the actual geography.  Don’t let ignorance of something that is easy to learn trip you up.  We can identify, or at least make an educated guess at, most of the places named in the Bible.

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Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Posted on 1 October, 2014 by Jon Gleason

This hymn by Joseph Hart is one of the favourites in our church.  It emphasises that we come to Jesus in belief and repentance, trusting that He is enough, that we do not have to be worthy, for He is worthy.

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There is No Third Way on Doctrine, Either

Posted on 29 September, 2014 by Jon Gleason

Al Mohler is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He is one of the most vocal and articulate evangelical spokesmen for a Biblical view of social and political issues in the Western world.  He recently wrote an excellent article on a challenge his denomination recently faced, and I highly recommend it.

But the purpose of this article is not to recommend the article, but to discuss an intriguing statement in his article — for if Al Mohler and other evangelicals consistently applied what he said, it would revolutionise and revitalise evangelicalism.

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Scripture Testimonies — 28 September 2014

Posted on 28 September, 2014 by Jon Gleason

Explanation (from last month):  The last Sunday of the month, we have Scripture reading testimonies in our church — no comments, just reading Scripture that people have read in the last week or two. It is profitable, interesting, and encouraging to see where people have been reading. It encourages any who haven’t been reading to read. And it encourages people to think, as they read, of what would be encouraging or challenging for others.

I’ll add this today:  we believe we should be praying for each other, and that we should be reading the Scriptures.  The person doing both of those things regularly will encounter Scriptures they would like to give to those for whom they are praying.  This gives an opportunity to do that.

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Attacking the Church — It is Rarely Doctrinal

Posted on 25 September, 2014 by Jon Gleason

My last post said that church problems are always doctrinal.  It is never accurate to say that a church which is straying in some way is doctrinally sound.  Every church problem is based on an error in applied doctrine.

In this article, it may sound like I’m contradicting that article.  If every church problem is doctrinal, won’t attacks on the church always be doctrinal in nature?  Perhaps — but they rarely start with a doctrinal focus.

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Church Problems — They Are Always Doctrinal

Posted on 24 September, 2014 by Jon Gleason

Most pastors have heard it many times, especially if they are active on the Internet — it hits their email inbox all the time.  “Something has gone wrong in my church.”  Sometimes it is from another pastor, sometimes a member of the congregation, often from someone he doesn’t even know, who gets in touch online.

There’s an additional statement that often comes with it:  “It’s not doctrinal.  The church still teaches sound doctrine.”  That addendum is wrong.  It is always doctrinal.  Problems always are.

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Your Neighbour

Posted on 19 September, 2014 by Jon Gleason

You, my readers, know God is on His throne, that nothing can happen but what He allows, and that He can and will do good for His people.

Your neighbour, your friends, your work colleagues, may not be His people.  They may not believe those things, and so not benefit from confidence in His promises.  Who knows how they are feeling today?

Every day is a good day to remember to love your neighbour.  Today is an especially good day for that, a day when patient listening, soft words, and small acts of kindness to people around you may matter even more than usual.

Romans 13:9

…and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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